Screen Acting, Performance and Actor Training in Contemporary Indian Cinema and OTT Culture

Year : 2026 | Volume : 03 | Issue : 02 | Page : 1 9
By

Ankush Verma,

Ritu S,

  1. PHD Scholar, Department of Mass Communication, Sharda University Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
  2. Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Sharda University Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

With the advent of digital streaming sites, screen acting and its performance aesthetics along with methods of actor training in contemporary Indian cinema have undergone tremendous changes. The evolution of OTT sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, SonyLIV, and Zee5 has created an environment where realistic, psychological, and character-centric performances are encouraged among other things. Therefore, contemporary acting in Indian cinema has evolved from the melodramatic theatrical tradition towards subtler, naturalistic and nuanced performance art forms. The current review paper focuses on discussing the evolution of screen acting and actor training in contemporary Indian cinema and the OTT era. The paper discusses various global and Indian theories of acting, such as the Stanislavski System, Method acting, psychophysical approach to acting, embodied cognition, Rasa Theory, Abhinay, etc. In addition, the paper discusses the changing dynamics in the field of acting institution, theatre practice, self-taping for auditions, digital casting, and multicultural vocal pedagogy, amongst other things. Through thematic review of recent studies and literature, some of the significant changes taking place in the field of acting pedagogy and performance culture in the post-streaming era are discussed. The conclusions drawn from the study show that OTT platforms have leveled the playing field for both trained actors and character artists but increased the need for screen actors. The study also reveals knowledge gaps in areas such as Indian OTT acting training, multilingualism in acting, digital identities, and an interdisciplinary approach to performance studies. The study concludes with an assertion that contemporary screen acting in India is going through a paradigm shift driven by technology, global streaming systems, and changing sensibilities among audiences.

Keywords: Screen acting, actor training, OTT platforms, Indian cinema, performance studies, digital media, rasa theory, stanislavski, contemporary acting, streaming culture

[This article belongs to International Journal of Trends in Humanities ]

How to cite this article: Ankush Verma, Ritu S. Screen Acting, Performance and Actor Training in Contemporary Indian Cinema and OTT Culture. International Journal of Trends in Humanities. 2026; 03(02):1-9.
How to cite this URL: Ankush Verma, Ritu S. Screen Acting, Performance and Actor Training in Contemporary Indian Cinema and OTT Culture. International Journal of Trends in Humanities. 2026; 03(02):1-9. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijth/article=2026/view=257207

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 03
Issue 02
Received 22/05/2026
Accepted 08/07/2026
Published 09/07/2026
Publication Time 48 Days

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