Entertainment
Bollywood is actually like a local train: Sumeet Vyas
By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Nov 8 (IANS) Actor Sumeet Vyas says Bollywood is like a local train, and he is struggling to find “a window seat in this crowded train”.
After getting famous with his web series “Permanent Roommates”, Sumeet was seen in “Ribbon”, and will also feature in Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer “Veerey Di Wedding”.
“Bollywood is actually like a local train. It’s crowded as hell. But if you manage to squeeze in, at some point you will find a window seat I do identify with the role of Karan, my character in ‘Ribbon’. His insecurities are something I identify with, and the fear of not getting where I want to are approaching me rapidly as I grow older,” Sumeet said.
“But I don’t wish to glorify my hardships, I think everyone has their share, the biggest being I’m still struggling to find a window seat in this crowded train called film business,” he added.
Sumeet feels ‘star kids’ might get their first opportunity easily, but only talent can take an individual ahead.
“I’m sure its easier for star kids to get their first opportunity. Beyond that, everyone has to pass on their merit. And I sincerely believe that instead of wasting my energy on ‘Why did they get it so easily?’ I’d rather work hard on my own goals.
“I feel more privileged then them, because I’ve lived a far richer life as an artist by growing up in poverty. I still remember, covering the roof of my chawl every year in rainy season, with those blue plastic sheets. I see them now from my airplane window…Trust me, I have more stories to tell.”
Sumeet says “Permanent Roommates” completely changed his life.
Talking about the web as a platform for content, he said: “Web is not an alternative to cinema, although it could be a potential venue for alternative cinema because it frees filmmakers from the pressure of the additional cost of marketing and releasing their smaller budget films in theatres.
“I do believe that the recognition I got from my web series has helped me in getting more opportunities in Bollywood.”
Sumeet says “Veerey Di Wedding” is a “fantastic ensemble film, where every character is relevant, including mine, else I wouldn’t have done the film”.
“I don’t get star-struck with actors. I am in awe of good scripts,” he added.
–IANS
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Entertainment
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
International online casino Casino Days has published a report sharing their internal data on what types and brands of devices are used to play on the platform by users from the South Asian region.
Such aggregate data analyses allow the operator to optimise their website for the brands and models of devices people are actually using.
The insights gained through the research also help Casino Days tailor their services based on the better understanding of their clients and their needs.
Desktops and Tablets Lose the Battle vs Mobile
The primary data samples analysed by Casino Days reveal that mobile connections dominate the market in South Asia and are responsible for a whopping 96.6% of gaming sessions, while computers and tablets have negligible shares of 2.9% and 0.5% respectively.
The authors of the study point out that historically, playing online casino was exclusively done on computers, and attribute thе major shift to mobile that has unfolded over time to the wide spread of cheaper smartphones and mobile data plans in South Asia.
“Some of the reasons behind this massive difference in device type are affordability, technical advantages, as well as cheaper and more obtainable internet plans for mobiles than those for computers,” the researchers comment.
Xiaomi and Vivo Outperform Samsung, Apple Way Down in Rankings
Chinese brands Xiaomi and Vivo were used by 21.9% and 20.79% of Casino Days players from South Asia respectively, and together with the positioned in third place with a 18.1% share South Korean brand Samsung dominate the market among real money gamers in the region.
Cupertino, California-based Apple is way down in seventh with a user share of just 2.29%, overshadowed by Chinese brands Realme (11.43%), OPPO (11.23%), and OnePlus (4.07%).
Huawei is at the very bottom of the chart with a tiny share just below the single percent mark, trailing behind mobile devices by Motorola, Google, and Infinix.
The data on actual phone usage provided by Casino Days, even though limited to the gaming parts of the population of South Asia, paints a different picture from global statistics on smartphone shipments by vendors.
Apple and Samsung have been sharing the worldwide lead for over a decade, while current regional leader Xiaomi secured their third position globally just a couple of years ago.
Striking Android Dominance among South Asian Real Money Gaming Communities
The shifted market share patterns of the world’s top smartphone brands in South Asia observed by the Casino Days research paper reveal a striking dominance of Android devices at the expense of iOS-powered phones.
On the global level, Android enjoys a comfortable lead with a sizable 68.79% share which grows to nearly 79% when we look at the whole continent of Asia. The data on South Asian real money gaming communities suggests that Android’s dominance grows even higher and is north of the 90% mark.
Among the major factors behind these figures, the authors of the study point to the relative affordability of and greater availability of Android devices in the region, especially when manufactured locally in countries like India and Vietnam.
“And, with influencers and tech reviews putting emphasis on Android devices, the choice of mobile phone brand and OS becomes easy; Android has a much wider range of products and caters to the Asian online casino market in ways that Apple can’t due to technical limitations,” the researchers add.
The far better integration achieved by Google Pay compared to its counterpart Apple Pay has also played a crucial role in shaping the existing smartphone market trends.
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