Jul 27, 2026 9:55pm IST
‘Gullak’ Star Siddhaarth Mishra on the Long Wait Between OTT Projects: ‘It’s Never Easy’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Siddhaartha Mishra, who has won praise for his performance in “Gullak” season 5, says that actors have to navigate a long, uncertain road in the OTT space. During a conversation with Variety India, he talks about times marked by waiting, self-doubt and dull phases.
He says, “Being in this profession is not easy because it involves a lot of waiting. It takes time for good parts to come your way. Before ‘Gullak,’ my last series, TVF’s ‘Industry,’ had released three years ago. So many people are here to become actors. Despite the influx of OTT, films and other mediums, the sheer magnitude of people who come to try to make it big in the industry makes the entire thing a time-consuming process.”
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As a rookie actor, Mishra thought his wait would end in six months. However, the wait turned out to be much longer. “It takes time no matter how good you are. When I had come here, I thought I would get the best parts in six months. I thought it would all be smooth sailing. I have been around for five years. You just need to be at it.”
Living With Uncertainty
Mishra shares that he still faces the unpredictability inherent in the profession. He says, “There are dull phases, but you can’t do anything about them. There are days with no work, but it gets better with time. For me, the longest wait between two projects has been two years. When there’s a big gap between two projects, self-doubt tends to creep in.”
Mishra has now learned to work around his projects. He shares, “I was an anchor with Star Sports. I’ve anchored the 2015 Cricket World Cup and the 2016 T20 World Cup. I do a lot of commentary. Anchoring helps keep my head clean and pay my bills when there is a lot of lull between two acting gigs.”
The Breakthrough Is Around The Corner
Despite the acclaim for “Gullak” season 5, Mishra is measured about where he stands in his career. He says that his breakthrough role is yet to happen. “I am very happy about the way ‘Gullak’ season 5 has turned out and the kind of reception I’m getting, but to be in that position where you call the shots, that is yet to happen. I would like to believe that it is around the corner,” he shares.
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On His Long History With TVF
Mishra’s association with TVF founder Arunabh Kumar goes back to the platform’s early days. He says, “I have known Arunabh Kumar for a long time. When I first came to Mumbai in 2011, TVF was in its beginning stages. I had also done a couple of shoots for them back then. I have seen how they transformed it from almost a garage-like setup into a pioneering force in the industry. I have done the majority of my work with TVF, but the success rate of cracking the auditions is around 15 to 20 percent. I have auditioned for their other shows like ‘The Pyramid Scheme’ and ‘Permanent Roommates’ as well, but I haven’t bagged everything. They are highly professional, and just because I share a friendly equation with Arunabh does not mean I bag a part. I have to go through auditions to get what I want.”
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