Samer Singh Dawar: Ads not only give you exposure and first-hand practice in front of the camera, but also pays you pretty well

“I have worked with a few high-profile brands like Armani Exchange Watches, VIP Inner Wear, Onn Protein and so on as a model. I have also featured in advertisements by prominent business moguls like Amazon, FBB and Lifestyle. For my campaigns with Armani Exchange Watches multiple times, I have worked with Kartik Aryan and shot in places like Mehboob Studios and Rajkamal Studio and our latest one was directed by Manu Anand sir. He is a gem of a person,” he says.

One gets a few seconds in an ad. On how easy or difficult it is to grab eyeballs within such a short time, Samer adds, “The basis for any advertisement in my opinion is the product to be highlighted. Having a knack for marketing and being able to memorise lines quickly, it’s not been a very challenging task for me. As far as performance is considered, if you are good enough then a few seconds are enough.”

Remuneration for ads is also lucrative. “Advertisements not only give you exposure and first-hand practice in front of the camera, but also pays you pretty well. Auditioning and waiting for an opportunity to be selected for a show/film is a long process that requires patience and perseverance and it comes along with expenses not just to match your daily needs but also expenses such as personal grooming, travel etc. To meet these needs, ads are a good source of passive income,” says the actor.

A good commercial has a classic value. Ask him about an ad from his childhood days that he liked and he replies, “I think one of my favourite ads from my childhood which has been so appealing and long lasting is that of Amul milk. I think for a good commercial to have a long lasting impact is its creativity, be it in terms of a jingle or presentation. I mean take Amul Milk for example, every time you hear it, ‘Amul doodh pita hai India’ starts ringing in your head. It’s super catchy and memorable.”