Why Pankaj Tripathi chose YouTube over OTT for debut production
What's the story
Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi recently shared his concerns about the increasing restrictions imposed by streaming platforms on creative freedom. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, he revealed that his debut production, Perfect Family, was released on YouTube to avoid such interference. "When you join a platform, your creativity becomes constrained... They decide who the creative head will be... But here (on YouTube), there is complete freedom," he said.
Creative restrictions
OTT platforms discourage improvisation due to fear of controversy
Tripathi, known for his on-set improvisation skills, revealed that he has stopped doing so because of the fear of controversy. He recalled an incident where he improvised a line and was immediately stopped by a creative head who said it had to be approved by the legal team. "Now the legal team will decide what we say?" he questioned.
Copyright concerns
Tripathi's encounter with copyright issues on set
Tripathi also shared an incident where he had to recite a short poem for a scene. The team insisted that they needed permission before filming, eventually delaying production. "I had to recite a poem for a scene... They told me we needed copyright permission," he said. Tripathi then contacted the poet's family and found out there was no copyright concern.
Production details
'Perfect Family' to follow Aamir Khan's YouTube pay model
Tripathi's debut production, Perfect Family, is streaming on YouTube under a structured pay model. This approach is similar to Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, which adopted a similar strategy after its theatrical release earlier this year. The first two episodes of Perfect Family are free on the YouTube channel JAR Series, while the remaining episodes can be accessed for a one-time payment of ₹59.