Q. Your work in the critically acclaimed show ‘Paatal Lok’ was crisp and eye-catching. What does this show bring to the table that other series fail to bring?
A. I think the amount of reality portrayed in this show is immense. When you are acting, you do not understand the big picture. However, the director has a big portrait of the show. The connection of the show with the audience is deep. Everyone and anyone can relate to the show because they see it happening around them. It is complex yet simple.
Q. You have worked in several films including OK Jaanu, Secret Superstar, and Arjun Patiala. What challenges did you face before making it big in Bollywood without any prior connections to the industry?
A. I think it is more important to work in creative ventures and self-explore oneself than working in a monotonous way. This is the first time you can see me talking and adding to the scene. When I came to Bombay, I had enough theatre experience to back me up. However, I wanted to understand the formula of penetrating into the industry and contribute positively.
Q. Indian web-series have witnessed a transition from typical drama to suspense and thriller. In your opinion, what is the main reason behind this transition?
A. In society, change is the only thing that is constant. The taste of the generation is changing and we have to adapt according to that. I still remember a very famous scene from TVF Pitchers, which made the actors immensely popular. This marked a paradigm shift in the upcoming web series. You do not eat same kind of food every time. This is crucial to understand working in the content industry. The audience is becoming smart and needs different type of content every time.
Q. What was your first reaction after you read the script? What did you like the most about the plot?
A. My first reaction(as the Casting Director) was centered on the whopping cast of the series. I was uncertain about if we will be to pull such a big cast and shape all the characters to do justice to the amazing script as it is. Matching the director’s vision about each character was a challenging task altogether.
After the series was conceptualised, shot and aired, I felt that these concerns made us work harder on polishing the characters and that we did reach somewhere, especially with the four assasins. We have been receiving many calls, messages and reviews about it. Personally, I feel that apart from what has been scripted, there is something different about the actors’ portrayal of their respective roles, which makes them stand apart.
Q. ‘Paatal Lok’ has dealt with crime, politics and communal clashes in a very intriguing way. What were those parts of the show that you felt were the most realistic and relatable to the status quo of India?
A. I could relate to everything. Talking about practicalities, intolerance and inability to handle criticism is quite evident in Indian backdrop. Our fellow Indians may be very sensitive and everyone has a different vision and opinion about a particular thing. Therefore, we have tried to show them small parts of different scenarios and settings in the simplest way possible.
Q. What do you think about the profession of Law?
A. All I can say is that Law is something made by humans, for humans. It is ever dynamic and keeps on changing/should change with change in our surroundings.
Law is a bridge to justice and I feel that justice should be the ultimate end of Law. If justice is not served, the purpose of law fails.
Q. We knew you as an actor but your role as the Casting Director has been beyond words. Unlike acting, casting is not something which is taught and one has to basically learn it through experience. How was your experience with this process and do you find this to be true?
A. I went into casting because I wanted that the actors should get work and job that they deserve. Being in the casting team provided me ample opportunity to grow and explore myself. I also wanted to contribute to the industry and when I first came to Mumbai, I wasn’t really keen on doing acting but I ventures into casting and worked for five years in that area. While working, my main aim was to bridge the gap between actors and the casting team of films
I arrived in Bombay, I was acting already. But I wanted to build connections in the industry and learn the intricacies. I think the purpose of learning has been truly served.
Nikita Grover