Reflecting on how this has changed over the years, he pointed to a generation of actors who broke through despite the odds. He said, “There was a time, around 10–12 years ago, when television actors were not getting opportunities in films. But that barrier was broken by people like Sushant Singh Rajput, may God bless his soul; Vidya Balan; and even Shah Rukh Khan. Many people managed to break through in one way or another.”
For Manas, the essence of acting does not change across mediums, even if the execution does. He said, “I believe that the core of an actor always remains the same. The finishing, polishing, personal experiences, techniques, and the art form itself may differ across mediums. There is a saying that the stage is an actor’s medium, television is a writer’s medium, and film is a director’s medium. But the basic core remains the same across all three: creativity, input, dedication, devotion, and all those qualities. The crafting and grooming on top of that are what differ.”
He was clear, though, that typecasting is no longer the real obstacle facing actors today. He said, “Other than that, there is no such thing as typecasting anymore. The problem now is that people do not even want actors; they want someone who can pull a crowd. There is nothing wrong with that, but even if someone brings in a crowd, what will you do if they cannot hold that audience? That is one of the reasons why the industry keeps declining day by day.”
He backed this up by comparing the television landscape of the past to where it stands now. He said, “Earlier, across all channels combined, there used to be 50–60 shows, and so many of them were huge hits. Look at the situation now. How many shows are there, and how many are actually ruling the TRP charts? The benchmark itself has changed. It is very sad to see what has happened.”
This decline, he explained, is exactly why he chose to take matters into his own hands. He said, “That is why I have decided to create content myself. Soon, there will be good projects and surprises coming through my production house. At the very least, I will gain creative satisfaction from it. I will invest my own money if I have to, so I will not have to worry about anyone else. And even if I lose that money, I will still have the satisfaction of knowing that I created something worthwhile.”
When it comes to the kind of roles he is chasing next, Manas insists he has no fixed type in mind. He said, “As an actor, there is nothing specific that I am looking for. Any role is fine. Anything that is challenging, something that you genuinely desire from within, something you can truly feel and absorb into your mind.”
He elaborated on what draws him to a character, no matter how unconventional. He said, “I personally believe that when an actor takes on a character, they eventually reach a stage where they understand how that character would behave across all the different emotions of life. So you can give me any character, a villain, a comedic role, even a gay character, or anything different, and I would be completely okay with it. Give me something challenging, something I have never imagined before. Take examples like Amitabh Bachchan’s role in Paa or Aamir Khan’s role in 3 Idiots. If there is a unique vision and someone is willing to experiment with me as an actor, I would love to be a part of it.”
Asked which medium he is still eager to conquer, Manas turned the conversation toward reality television, an area he has yet to explore. He said, “Films and OTT projects were available to me before, and they will continue to come in the future as well. But when it comes to reality shows, yes, there has been a huge boom in reality-based content and personalities. Until now, I have never really had the opportunity to show my real personality because I have mostly played fictional characters.”
He went on to explain why this particular space appeals to him at this stage of his life. He said, “On a personal level, I have never been someone who attends too many public appearances either. So yes, I would like to explore reality shows and present myself as the real Manas. Whether the public accepts me or not is a different matter, but I would definitely like to show my genuine views, thought processes, and my real self. So yes, reality shows are my priority right now.”
