Did 'Jamtara' Actor Anshumaan Pushkar Ever Lose a Role Due to Social Media Metrics?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anshumaan Pushkar has lost roles due to social media metrics.
- He believes talent should be prioritized over social media numbers.
- The stereotype of small-town actors is changing.
- Pushkar has portrayed a range of characters, challenging typecasting.
- His latest film, 'Maalik', received mixed reviews.
Mumbai, July 18 (NationPress) 'Jamtara' star Anshumaan Pushkar has candidly discussed whether he has ever missed out on a role because of social media metrics.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Pushkar admitted that he indeed lost a role due to insufficient social media presence.
He stated, "I don’t take it personally. If a producer or director favors numbers over talent, that’s entirely their choice. It doesn’t imply that the selected actor lacks talent.
When questioned if social media presence holds more weight than acting prowess in today’s industry, Pushkar affirmed, saying, "You can’t compare yourself to someone like Ranbir Kapoor, who possesses a vast fan following. For actors like us, casting decisions can sometimes depend on Instagram metrics. This is how marketing operates now—it’s data-driven. But I don’t harbor resentment; it’s simply a part of the system."
He also addressed the stereotype that actors from smaller towns are only suited for rural or rustic roles.
Pushkar mentioned that his perspective is evolving. Citing examples like Kangana Ranaut, the late Sushant Singh Rajput, and Pankaj Tripathi, he remarked, "They all originated from small towns and have portrayed a variety of roles. It’s about potential and audience acceptance. Once you are embraced by the public, anything is achievable."
Recently seen as Badaun in Rajkummar Rao's gangster film 'Maalik', he was asked if playing characters with grey shades has restricted his ability to take on positive leads.
He firmly denied this, stating, "Characters are just characters—whether grey or white. In Agrahan, I portrayed a deeply emotional, loving character. In another project, I was cast as a socially invisible figure—someone overlooked yet profoundly human. The industry has provided me with a diverse range of roles. Perhaps it’s my voice, emotions, or something else, but I’ve been fortunate to play both intense and nuanced characters. I'm open to all types of work."
'Maalik' was released in theaters on July 11 and received mixed reviews.