Manpreet Kaur Saluja on TV vs OTT: 'You get to perform every single day'
Synopsis
While the industry debates OTT versus television, 'Mann Sundar' actress Manpreet Kaur Saluja makes a case that streaming platforms cannot replicate: TV forces actors to perform, fail, and improve every single day — a live-fire training loop that no limited-series format can match.
Key Takeaways
Manpreet Kaur Saluja stars in 'Mann Sundar' and is currently seen in 'Kaisi Teri Dillagi' .
She argues television's core strength is the opportunity to perform and self-correct every single day — something OTT cannot offer.
Saluja acknowledges real pressure on actors to maintain a consistent social media presence to stay connected with audiences. 'Mann Sundar' gave her the lead role she had long pursued, which she describes as a career-defining breakthrough.
Her comments reflect a broader trend of established TV actors choosing to deepen their commitment to the medium rather than migrate to OTT.
Television actress Manpreet Kaur Saluja, best known for her lead role in the daily soap 'Mann Sundar', has weighed in on the much-debated television-versus-OTT debate — and she comes down firmly on the side of the small screen, at least for what it does to an actor's craft.
Television's Unique Edge for Actors
Saluja argues that the daily grind of television is, paradoxically, its greatest gift to performers. 'I think television's biggest strength is that you get the opportunity to perform every single day. Every day brings a new challenge. Even if you are not satisfied with your performance one day, you get another chance the next day to improve yourself and prove your abilities,' she said.
This is a perspective that often gets lost in the industry's rush toward prestige OTT productions. While streaming platforms offer longer prep time and cinematic production values, television's relentless pace — shooting and airing episodes daily — functions as an accelerated training ground that OTT projects, with their limited episode counts and extended schedules, simply cannot replicate.
The Social Media Pressure on TV Actors
Saluja also addressed the mounting pressure on celebrities to maintain a constant digital presence. She acknowledged that visibility on social media has become as much a professional requirement as on-screen performance. 'Yes, that pressure definitely exists today. Everyone feels the need to remain visible online because people connect with you through social media. If you genuinely enjoy sharing your life with your audience, then it is a good thing,' she said.
Notably, this pressure falls disproportionately on television actors, whose audience engagement cycles are daily rather than seasonal, making sustained social media activity both more necessary and more demanding than it is for OTT counterparts who release work in batches.
How 'Mann Sundar' Changed Her Career
'Mann Sundar' marked a turning point for Manpreet Kaur Saluja, giving her the lead role she had long worked toward. 'I feel extremely blessed. Mann Sundar gave me the lead role I had been dreaming of for a long time. I had been working hard to achieve this opportunity, and getting a lead role through this show is something I am deeply grateful for. I truly feel blessed,' she said.
The show established her as a recognisable face in Hindi television, translating years of supporting work into a headline billing.
What She Is Working on Now
Saluja is currently appearing in the show 'Kaisi Teri Dillagi', continuing her run in primetime Hindi television. With back-to-back lead roles, she represents a cohort of television actors who are choosing to deepen their roots in the medium rather than pivot exclusively to OTT — a trend worth watching as streaming platforms increasingly court established TV talent.
Point of View
But it overlooks a structural reality: daily television is one of the few formats that forces actors into genuine repetition-under-pressure, the kind that builds range fast. What mainstream coverage misses is that this debate is not really about prestige — it is about training pipelines. As OTT platforms increasingly poach television-trained talent, they are drawing down a reservoir they are not replenishing. The social media pressure Saluja describes is also underreported: TV actors face audience accountability in near real-time, daily, in a way that OTT actors — whose work drops in seasonal batches — simply do not.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Manpreet Kaur Saluja say television offers that OTT cannot?
She says television gives actors the chance to perform every single day, which means constant challenge and the ability to course-correct after an unsatisfying performance. OTT productions, with their limited episode counts and longer schedules, do not provide this daily repetition.
Which shows is Manpreet Kaur Saluja known for?
She is best known for her lead role in the daily soap 'Mann Sundar', which she credits as her career breakthrough. She is currently appearing in 'Kaisi Teri Dillagi'.
How does Manpreet Kaur Saluja view social media pressure on actors?
She acknowledges the pressure is real, saying every actor feels the need to stay visible online because audiences connect with them through social media. She adds that it is a positive thing when actors genuinely enjoy sharing their lives with fans.
Why was 'Mann Sundar' significant for Manpreet Kaur Saluja?
'Mann Sundar' gave her the lead role she had worked toward for years, marking a shift from supporting work to headline billing. She has described landing the role as something she is 'deeply grateful for'.
What does the TV-versus-OTT debate mean for Indian television actors?
For actors like Saluja, television remains the medium that builds craft fastest through daily performance. The debate reflects a wider industry tension as OTT platforms court TV-trained talent while the daily soap format continues to develop new stars.
