Karnesh Sharma discusses his women-focused streaming platform Clean OTT, his sister Anushka Sharma’s future participation in the company, and how their upbringing influenced their views on gender equality.
Karnesh Ssharma, brother of actress Anushka Sharma, revealed last month that he was establishing Clean OTT, a streaming network dedicated to female-oriented content. Karnesh addresses what he intends to achieve with Clean OTT, the role sister Anushka will play there, and how his gender-neutral upbringing helped him create a respect and understanding for women in an interview with Hindustan Times.
Anushka announced her departure from the siblings’ other endeavour, production firm Clean Slate Filmz, shortly after the introduction of Clean OTT. Anushka declared that she would concentrate on her ‘first love,’ acting, and that she would delegate production to her brother. According to Karnesh, Clean OTT would be the same way. “Anushka will appear in the film as an actor, but neither as a producer or as a creative contributor. But, without a doubt, a well-wisher. She is gifted and one of the finest in the industry “he declares.
Clean OTT is the world’s first female-focused streaming service, according to its creators. Karnesh, when discussing the necessity for such an endeavour, adds, “The majority of the programming in our environment is 70-80% male-dominated. A consumer base that has not been catered to has clearly become alienated. Of course, the goal is to create an OTT platform for women. It’s also about having a platform that tells tales with a good female perspective. It might be a narrative with male heroes, but the story’s perspective on women is crucial.”
However, he stresses that portraying women’s experiences does not need an all-female cast or crew. Karnesh continues, “What we need to alter is how women are depicted on film, how they are seen, what they are doing, and what their agency is. Men, on the other hand, have told some of the finest stories for women. You have Bimal Roy and Satyajit Ray telling incredible stories about women.”
Clean OTT still has a long way to go before launching sometime next year. Karnesh, on the other hand, claims that the process has already begun. “We didn’t stop writing,” he claims, adding that they now have 18-19 titles in the works. “We have the right people in the right professions,” he concludes, “and we expect to be able to tell stories that matter shortly.”
