How Does Theatre Compete In A World Consumed By Reels And OTT? Pratik Gandhi, Makarand Deshpande, Sumeet Vyas, Zahan Kapoor And Others Tell Us How

On World Theatre Day, The Free Press Journal asked actors who’ve made their mark both on stage and screen how theatre competes in a world dominated by Reels and Netflix

Zahan Kapoor

In a world consumed by reels and streaming, I think theatre is poised to be even more impactful and necessary. Not only is it immediate and, in a way, transient because it exists only right here, right now, but it also cannot be rewatched, cannot be re-streamed, and cannot be reshared immediately. It has to be attended to, witnessed in the moment. Secondly, it is a true act of connection and communion because the audience makes the effort to show up, commit, and participate. The artist also participates in a very immediate way. It’s a genuine exchange of energies—one receives and reacts, while the other submits fully, immerses itself fully, and gives. I think because of that, it’s even more powerful. The collective experience and the collective sharing, the connection through art, through story, will feel even more necessary as the world becomes increasingly digital.

Pratik Gandhi

Theatre is a human experience that has its charm. We, as humans, thrive on personal connections and interactions. As our lives become increasingly digital, the value of these personal connections and immersive experiences will only continue to grow. Theatre will remain a treasured art form, offering a unique space for human connection and emotional resonance.

Sumeet Vyas

In my opinion, I don’t think theatre has ever competed with television, films, or the Netflix and Reels of the world since cinema and television first came into the picture. Theatre found its own audience. It’s also a very different experience because it is a live art form. It’s like listening to a song on your phone or earphones versus listening to a live performance. It’s a completely different experience altogether because there is something called a human touch or human feel. When you perform on stage, in some sense, you and the audience become one at some point. And that’s why it’s a completely different, and in my opinion, a superior experience.

Makarand Deshpande

By being theatrical! Which means writing for the stage and staging it as a play!

Aditya Rawal
There is no competition. One medium has existed for 5000 plus years and the other for less than 150. In the age of Gen AI and deepfakes, our trust in (and value for) what we see on a screen will only decrease… and live performance will become even more relevant.

Sanya Sagar (Actor/director)

Theatre is God and will always be! Performing arts originated in Athens, Greece in the 5th century, just as the world has transcended through its various civilisations since the inception of time, so has theatre. It didn’t stop then so why should it stop now?
That said, surely the streaming services like Netflix Prime etc have made people lazy as now entertainment is available on your couch at your own convenience, this is definitely irreplaceable. I remember during lockdown National Theatre London started Live theatre streaming on YouTube, I watched Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Naomi Harris in it, I was mesmerised by what they did! Point being, theatre too is evolving with the ever growing technology. West end and broadway is constantly finding new ways to keep things fresh and exciting with the help of technology, making it more immersive, or reaching a larger audience though live streams. Humans today hold an attention span of a butterfly, we scroll every few seconds only because we are bored, I think it’s commendable how theatre is still thriving through it all.
In my opinion, no, theatre hasn’t lost its charm, if anything it’s upgraded itself, strongly holding the spot of one of the most respected art forms on a global platform. There is a reason why non actor actors are scared of theatre actors -because we are made of steel.

Garima Yajnik (Actor, Akvarious Productions)
Theatre, in my view, has no need to compete with any other form of entertainment. It stands on its own as a completely different medium that has existed far longer than the camera was even invented.

Be it the intimacy of a smaller theatrical show, or the spectacles that are brought on by the bigger productions, I don’t think theatre is in any danger of losing relevance in this day and age. In fact, in the fast-paced world of scrolling, I think people crave live entertainment and the stage experience.

While I agree that it is enjoyable and convenient to watch content from the comfort of your own home, I think both sources of entertainment have their own place. People also want to go out and have an all-encompassing experience. Basically, theatre is timeless and I believe it will, in fact, thrive today!

Nihal Parashar (Playwright and Author)
Theatre doesn’t compete—it persists. While Reels and Netflix offer instant gratification, theatre provides an irreplaceable live experience, a human connection that no screen can replicate. In a world of distractions, theatre remains a space for reflection, depth, and raw emotions.

Roshan Shetty (Actor, Playwright & Theatre Director)
Theatre has been poor for 5000 years and yet, it’s still standing. While reels get millions of views in 10 seconds, we still beg friends to watch a play. But trust me, in a world drowning in reels, OTT, and AI content, people will crave real humans forgetting lines on stage again.