'Mayasabha' Star Chaitanya Rao: It’s The Best Time To Be An Actor Today
The actor, who was last seen in SonyLIV show ‘Mayasabha’ speaks about the ease of access for the actors of today.
Telugu actor Chaitanya Rao rose to fame with his comical turn as a 30-year-old suitor navigating an unconventional marriage in the YouTube web series 30 Weds 21 (2021).
The actor, who now has films like Keedaa Cola and the upcoming Anushka Shetty comeback Ghaati to his credit, speaks about the importance of access in the industry in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.
“Back when I started, there was no social media. The opportunity used to be to wait for somebody to discover our potential,” Rao says. “We didn't have any other way to approach people.”
Rao was recently seen in the SonyLIV series Mayasabha alongside Aadhi Pinisetty. The actor recalls how he saw his first meeting with the actor, almost 12 years back, as an opportunity to open new doors. “When I met him, I was thinking if I would get any chance to work with him. It was just a hope. Now, you see so many PR connections, references, etc.” Rao, who had to undergo a physical transformation to look the part of a politician from the '70s, adds that his friendship with Aadhi helped him etch his character in Mayasabha with deeper dimensions.
Rao doesn’t mind that the ease of access also naturally paves the way for competition. “Back then, to even go meet a director was a difficult thing. But today, there is a lot of competition. Everyone wants to stand out. A healthy competition leads to healthy, quality work. Character-driven roles are being written today, and actors are being chosen. It builds a great space for an actor.”
At the end of the day, opportunity is everything, he admits. “There are a lot of hardworking actors, but you still need to have those few people to pick you, back you, and only then are you shown to the world.”