New Delhi, Nov. 11 -- Despite the burgeoning popularity of web originals on video streaming platforms, actors who gained fame on OTT have mostly found it tough to transition to the big screen.

With the exception of a handful of names including Pratik Gandhi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vikrant Massey and Vijay Varma, experts say the number remains low because streaming visibility does not automatically create theatrical star power.

Mainstream cinema still relies on familiarity and box-office pull. OTT gives performers the space to build layered characters and establish credibility over several hours of storytelling. A theatrical lead has to convert that recognition into a different kind of audience demand.

"The number is low for a fairly structur...