TV actors second Shashank Vyas’s appeal to include actors’ names in show credits Shashank Vyas is the first actor to raise the issue of TV actors’ names not being part of the credit titles of their shows. JYOTHI VENKATESH asked other TV actors what they feel about this, and here is what they had to say.

Abhishek Tewari 

I believe it’s equally important as the actors are the face of the show and people should know their favourites. It’s not unfamiliar also because in the past when Indian serials started, the shows used to end with the name of actors in the credit titles. Undeniably we are known by the story and characters we play but also the amount of passion that an actor consistently puts into a role definitely evolves it and makes it largely noticeable. So, the success of a show is reflected in both ways. We work as a team for a long period of time in television, so that should also be acknowledged along with all the other things. I believe it’s quite a reasonable request to put the names in the credit titles. It’s more encouraging for an actor if the names are also credited.

Mahhima Kottary 

I absolutely second that. A person’s name is the greatest connection to their own identity and individuality. TV actors are recognised from their characters, however, there is a difference between a fictional name and a real name. A fictional name has a character’s identity whereas our real names are our identity. Smriti Irani Ji is known by her character name ‘Tulsi’ but in politics, she is recognised as ‘Smriti Irani’.

Ssharad Malhotra

Yes, I strongly feel that every person who is a part of a project, be it a technician or an artist, should have his or her name in the credit titles. TV characters are loved by one and all but gone are the days when TV artists were just known by their onscreen character names. It’s time that we collectively bring about a change.

Rohitashv  Gour 

Earlier, they used to name actors in the credit and everyone used to feel happy looking at their names. But nowadays actors are known by their character names like Smiriti Irani is popular with her character name Tulsi. These days fans somehow manage to search the name of their favourite actor with the help of social media. Some people meet me and say ‘Hi Rohitash’ and I feel surprised that they know my real name so I ask them how do they know it. They tell me that as I play the character of Tiwari ji in Bhabhiji Ghar Pe Hain, they searched my name on the internet and got to know about my real name. So, I don’t feel that in today’s world we should be concerned about getting the credit titles. There is no such need. It will be good if we don’t take this thing seriously because I feel if you are known by the name of your character, it shows that people are liking you because of your talent.

Saurabh Pandey

If we take the example of the early days of TV when TV shows had just started, all the high rating TV shows had amazing actors in them and, with the crew, their names were also shown. I understand that actors are in the limelight and they have a lot of articles which come out on them. But I feel still their names in the show should be shown because after all, they are also the part of the team.

Kishori Shahane Vij 

I think for me, a name matters a lot. I have worked in the film industry in Marathi cinema and Hindi cinema as well and my name was always mentioned in the credits. I think maybe after 2000 or something, probably giving credits to actors on TV disappeared. I was also shocked initially, I used to ask for it. I like to be called Kishori Shahane Vij as an actor and not to be named by any character all the time. I feel that I lose my identity.

Bhanujeet Singh Sudan

I guess it’s very important for an actor’s name to be there in credit titles because there are times when people do not know who the actor is. They watch the show, they know the character but they don’t know the name of the actor. To be frank, we are not the characters we play. We are human beings who are exactly like anybody else and we have names given by our parents and its nice when somebody gets to know me by my name and then understand that I am playing these characters.  I would appreciate that more.

Rushad Rana

Yes. I think it would be great if TV actors names are included in the credits because, in spite of having done a reasonable amount of work, very few people know us by our name. They normally know us by our character names. This is the difference which film actors enjoy and TV actors don’t enjoy.

Aniruddh Dave 

I would really appreciate the fact that Shashank Vyas thought about this. My first show came in 2009, Raajkumar Aaryyan and one more show I used to do on Sahara One Who Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki and at that time my name used to appear on both the shows. Now, it has been almost 10 years after that and I have not seen actors getting the credit title for the shows. On the digital platform, there is a lot of content which is coming. And we can see that whichever actor appears as their names are written on the side. Other actors get encouraged by that.

Shakti Arora

I feel it’s very important for every actor because an actor works for appreciation. An actor is nothing if not appreciated and an actor’s job is not easy. From the director to the spot boy, each and every name associated with the show is shown except actors. I don’t know why this partiality is done. Few years ago, this was not the scene. After channels and actors started blooming, they decided not to show actors name as they feel if actors will get more recognition, they will get famous, and they won’t be able to handle their success and will throw tantrums and demand more money. But all these things can be added in the contract.

For more Bollywood updates, follow Bollyy!