20 September,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Shriya Pilgaonkar. Pics/By Special Arrangement, AFP, Instagram
What does it take to achieve stardom? A popular franchise like Mirzapur can make an actor a familiar face in millions of homes, but does that automatically give them star status? Shriya Pilgaonkar doesn't think so. Having worked across the web and films, she believes stardom involves much more than simply being a good actor.
"The definition of stardom has changed over a period of time because stars were not accessible before; they were aspirational. Today [it's more about] relatability," believes Pilgaonkar, who has made her mark with Guilty Minds (2022), The Broken News (2022), Taaza Khabar (2023), Mirzapur: The Movie, among other projects.
A still from âMirzapur: The Movie'
The entertainment industry still has ground to cover when it comes to creating stars out of performers, especially the new generation of recognisable actors who have built their repertoire through streaming. But Pilgaonkar feels visibility and acting ability alone don't necessarily translate into the stardom traditionally associated with theatrical cinema. "In our industry, casting based on merit does not happen often. You do need more risk-takers, and the audacity to cast. I don't think acting well is enough to gain stardom. You either consciously work towards it with the right machinery and mechanism, or you let it happen organically," she says.
For Pilgaonkar, the gap between OTT recognition and theatrical stardom feels very real. While an actor can build credibility through streaming, she believes the industry attaches a different perception to those who establish themselves through commercially successful theatrical films. "Positioning and mounting play a huge role in the quality of work that comes to an actor. Having commercial success puts [me] in a better position to be seen differently and capable of holding space on the big screen."
She also believes the industry must allow performers to grow beyond the boxes they are initially placed in. "This is an industry that likes to keep artistes where they are. Whether it's an influencer wanting to be an actor, a television actor wanting to be a film actor, someone from OTT, anybody who's trying to rise above their comfort zone, the industry doesn't immediately accept them until there is one big breakout moment," she says. With stardom evolving, Pilgaonkar believes an actor's relationship with the audience is becoming equally important. "Today, Pankaj ji [Tripathi] or Jaideep Ahlawat, who are stars, are introduced [as such everywhere]. For the audience, based on their relationship with the person, they call all of us stars," she adds.
Shriya Pilgaonkar will be seen in Vir Das's âBaara Number', a found-footage horror film that she has already wrapped up
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