Naman Shaw: I am absolutely against social media-based casting

Like many of his peers, Naman Shaw, who currently plays the male lead in Mangal Lakshmi, has encountered the challenges of casting decisions increasingly influenced by an artiste’s social media following. He shares, “In recent years, casting has been largely dominated by social media numbers. But in my experience, social media following doesn’t guarantee good TRPs. For reality shows, it makes sense to consider an individual’s online presence. But for daily soaps, you need actors who can perform consistently, backed by a solid storyline — not just by their follower count. I strongly oppose casting based on social media. For a daily show, performance is key, and while social media might grab attention for the first week, what happens after that? Many shows have failed because influencers were cast as actors.”
Despite the mounting pressure to conform, Naman remains steadfast. “I’m not very active on social media, and I’ve been asked about my follower count when considering acting offers. However, I’ve never given in to those demands. Everyone has their own approach. I do participate in reels when my co-actors encourage me, and that’s perfectly fine. My issue is when casting is driven solely by social media followings and reel popularity. I don’t think that’s right, and I believe it needs to change”.
He adds, “Content creation is a demanding job but acting is no less intense. I prefer to focus on one role that truly requires my dedication. When I ventured into production, we were advised to cast people with larger followings on social media. Sometimes, you have no choice but to comply, but I’m relieved that people are beginning to recognise the importance of casting seasoned actors for the long-term success of a show. Finally, actors who have been waiting for their chance and are genuinely talented are starting to get the recognition they deserve.”