<p>For Siddharth P Malhotra, the release of the courtroom drama Ikka on July 10 is not just another premiere—it is the culmination of a ten-year obsession. Designed as the very first film he ever wanted to make, the project came close to production multiple times, only to fall through at the last minute.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Netflix film features Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Tillotama Shome, Akanksha Ranjan and Dia Mirza in key roles.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In a chat with WION recently,&nbsp; Malhotra said, &nbsp;"Imagine the destiny of this film that I've been at it trying to get this film made. And every time, it's reached right at the end point. And for some reason or the other, it fell through. So, I've just been persistently at it."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For Malhotra, the long wait was worth it, believing it was "God's plan" for the stars to align when they did.</p><h2>Two Schools of Cinema Clash: Sunny Deol vs. Tillotama Shome</h2><p><br>On paper, pairing action icon Sunny Deol with indie powerhouse Tillotama Shome as courtroom adversaries seems unthinkable. But for Malhotra, Deol was always the only choice to play the central character, Arjun Mehra.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Malhotra recalled, "There was nobody else to play Arjun Mehra. And I'm a huge Sunny Deol fan. When we did acting classes, the first speech that we were given was the Sunny Deol speech from Damini."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When Netflix greenlit the film, Shome became the ‘unanimous choice’ to play his legal opponent, creating an electric contrast of styles.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The director explained, "We thought, let's get two different schools of cinema to clash together as well. And that will give us something very interesting. Because there are layers, there are silences, there are moments where Tilly just looks. And when you have brilliant actors, the scenes elevate."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Bringing Akshaye Khanna onboard</h2><p><br>While Deol and Shome locked horns, Malhotra needed a powerful antagonist. Though he doubted whether Akshaye Khanna would agree to the role, he urged Netflix to reach out anyway.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Malhotra shared, "We went to Akshaye, we narrated it to him. He read it in two days. He said, 'damn good script' and came onboard."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Directing a powerhouse trio like Deol, Khanna, and Shome in a talky courtroom drama presented its own cinematic challenges. To prevent the scenes from static monotony, Malhotra and his editor, Shweta, focused heavily on pacing and movement.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Malhotra detailed, “When you have Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, and you've cast them, then there is a certain fandom that you have to cater to. Also, because the courtroom is heavy on dialogues and monologues, I had to ensure that there was energy in the scene. Either the camera was moving or the actors were moving so that it does not look boring. It's got to move at a certain pace.”</p><h2>How OTT is empowering a &nbsp;‘third-generation Nepo kid’</h2><p><br>As the grandson of legendary actors Prem Nath and Bina Rai, and the grand-nephew of Raj Kapoor, Malhotra jokingly refers to himself as a "third-generation nepo kid." Yet, his filmography (We Are Family, Hichki, Maharaj) shows a director constantly pivoting across genres. He credits OTT platforms for giving creators the creative freedom to take risks that traditional theatrical releases might shy away from.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Malhotra asserted: "A film like Maharaj would never have been released considering all the things, if Monica Shergill of Netflix, along with Aditya Chopra, had not empowered me. OTT is empowering creators."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="Ikka movie review: Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna's film lacks real legal spark, delivers drama instead">Ikka movie review: Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna's film lacks real legal spark, delivers drama instead</a></p><h2>The decline of Indian television: ‘A ruthless numbers game’</h2><p><br>Despite his cinematic success, Malhotra’s roots remain firmly planted in television, having produced iconic shows like Sanjivani, Dil Mil gaye and Kaafir. However, he feels modern TV has lost its golden-era charm—the era when his father, Prem Krishen, produced masterpieces like Katha Sagar.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Malhotra laments that the medium has devolved into a repetitive loop of "formula" writing designed to torture protagonists.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Malhotra explained, "Now, the formula that works on TV is to find reasons to make the protagonist get tortured. It is repetitive in nature. The TRP game has changed completely. When we did Sanjivani, we've seen TRPs of 27, 28. Today, a high TRP on television is when you hit a 2."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>His last TV venture, Pashmina—a 150-episode series shot entirely outdoors in Kashmir—was completed on his own terms despite budget cuts. But Malhotra admits the environment has become hostile to creative vision.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“For creators on television, it becomes more and more challenging. Here, what happens, you work for six months on a show, and in one month or one week, you're asked to get cut, because now it's a ruthless number game. So, hats off to everyone who is surviving that game today, ” Malhotra concluded.&nbsp;</p>

After a decade-long struggle, filmmaker Siddharth P. Malhotra's dream project Ikka has finally made its debut on Netflix. In a candid conversation with WION, the director of Hichki and Maharaj opens up about his persistence, clashing two completely different schools of acting and more.

For Siddharth P Malhotra, the release of the courtroom drama Ikka on July 10 is not just another premiere—it is the culmination of a ten-year obsession. Designed as the very first film he ever wanted to make, the project came close to production multiple times, only to fall through at the last minute. The Netflix film features Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Tillotama Shome, Akanksha Ranjan and Dia Mirza in key roles. In a chat with WION recently, Malhotra said, "Imagine the destiny of this film that I've been at it trying to get this film made. And every time, it's reached right at the end point. And for some reason or the other, it fell through. So, I've just been persistently at it." For Malhotra, the long wait was worth it, believing it was "God's plan" for the stars to align when they did. Two Schools of Cinema Clash: Sunny Deol vs. Tillotama Shome On paper, pairing action icon Sunny Deol with indie powerhouse Tillotama Shome as courtroom adversaries seems unthinkable. But for Malhotra, Deol was always the only choice to play the central character, Arjun Mehra. Malhotra recalled, "There was nobody else to play Arjun Mehra. And I'm a huge Sunny Deol fan. When we did acting classes, the first speech that we were given was the Sunny Deol speech from Damini." When Netflix greenlit the film, Shome became the ‘unanimous choice’ to play his legal opponent, creating an electric contrast of styles. The director explained, "We thought, let's get two different schools of cinema to clash together as well. And that will give us something very interesting. Because there are layers, there are silences, there are moments where Tilly just looks. And when you have brilliant actors, the scenes elevate." Bringing Akshaye Khanna onboard While Deol and Shome locked horns, Malhotra needed a powerful antagonist. Though he doubted whether Akshaye Khanna would agree to the role, he urged Netflix to reach out anyway. Malhotra shared, "We went to Akshaye, we narrated it to him. He read it in two days. He said, 'damn good script' and came onboard." Directing a powerhouse trio like Deol, Khanna, and Shome in a talky courtroom drama presented its own cinematic challenges. To prevent the scenes from static monotony, Malhotra and his editor, Shweta, focused heavily on pacing and movement. Malhotra detailed, “When you have Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, and you've cast them, then there is a certain fandom that you have to cater to. Also, because the courtroom is heavy on dialogues and monologues, I had to ensure that there was energy in the scene. Either the camera was moving or the actors were moving so that it does not look boring. It's got to move at a certain pace.” How OTT is empowering a ‘third-generation Nepo kid’ As the grandson of legendary actors Prem Nath and Bina Rai, and the grand-nephew of Raj Kapoor, Malhotra jokingly refers to himself as a "third-generation nepo kid." Yet, his filmography (We Are Family, Hichki, Maharaj) shows a director constantly pivoting across genres. He credits OTT platforms for giving creators the creative freedom to take risks that traditional theatrical releases might shy away from. Malhotra asserted: "A film like Maharaj would never have been released considering all the things, if Monica Shergill of Netflix, along with Aditya Chopra, had not empowered me. OTT is empowering creators." Also read: Ikka movie review: Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna's film lacks real legal spark, delivers drama instead The decline of Indian television: ‘A ruthless numbers game’ Despite his cinematic success, Malhotra’s roots remain firmly planted in television, having produced iconic shows like Sanjivani, Dil Mil gaye and Kaafir. However, he feels modern TV has lost its golden-era charm—the era when his father, Prem Krishen, produced masterpieces like Katha Sagar. Malhotra laments that the medium has devolved into a repetitive loop of "formula" writing designed to torture protagonists. Malhotra explained, "Now, the formula that works on TV is to find reasons to make the protagonist get tortured. It is repetitive in nature. The TRP game has changed completely. When we did Sanjivani, we've seen TRPs of 27, 28. Today, a high TRP on television is when you hit a 2." His last TV venture, Pashmina—a 150-episode series shot entirely outdoors in Kashmir—was completed on his own terms despite budget cuts. But Malhotra admits the environment has become hostile to creative vision. “For creators on television, it becomes more and more challenging. Here, what happens, you work for six months on a show, and in one month or one week, you're asked to get cut, because now it's a ruthless number game. So, hats off to everyone who is surviving that game today, ” Malhotra concluded.

<p>After a decade-long struggle, filmmaker Siddharth P. Malhotra's dream project Ikka has finally made its debut on Netflix. In a candid conversation with WION, the director of Hichki and Maharaj opens up about his persistence, clashing two completely different schools of acting and more.</p>

10 Years in the making: How Siddharth P Malhotra finally brought Sunny Deol and Tillotama Shome’s legal clash to life in Ikka | Exclusive

<p>Indian filmmaker Atul Sabharwal recently directed a fast-paced spy thriller starring two amazing talents, Ishwak Singh and Aparshakti Khurana in a film that is set in the 90s. Sepia-toned New Delhi offered a beautiful canvas for the director&nbsp;to weave a gripping world of lies and deceit and intense drama. The film was released on ZEE5 on September 13.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Atul Sabharwal spoke to WION exclusively about evoking a sense of nostalgia with <em>Berlin</em>, how he got the idea for the espionage thriller if he ever envisioned a different ending and more.</p>

<p><em><strong>Here are the edited excerpts of our chat:</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>Q: What is <em>Berlin</em>, the film for you?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: It's a story of an underdog or two underdogs who try to wrestle with the powers that are much more powerful than them. One does it out of his curiosity and inquisitiveness and the other out of his value system where he feels that he needs to protect something. If you look at it, they are both motivated to try and protect the vulnerable. Pushkin tries to protect Ashok. Ashok tries to protect the woman.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: The film evokes a sense of nostalgia – the colour, tone, the way it’s been shot. If you could tell us a bit about that process?</strong></p>

<p>A: The cinematography evolved from whatever the research guided us towards. We asked questions like what did the films of that era look like? What did the buildings look like? What was the costume? Once you have all the answers, you have to narrow down the choices because, in any given era, there is not one specific shade or palette of colour that people are wearing. People at any given point wear all kinds of things.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We asked which are the colours that will stay true to the period, but also stay true to the emotion. What are the camera angles or what are the camera movements? I mean, it's a little technical, but those are the decisions that one has to very consciously make.</p>

<p><strong>Q: Most spy thrillers tend to be inspired by their predecessors. <em>Berlin</em> has that naive authenticity though. How did you write this film?</strong></p>

<p>A: When I started writing it, I had a reference point of a character who was a waiter at a cafe, who was deaf-mute because the cafe employed deaf-mute staff. It was Costa Coffee in Lokhandwala, Mumbai. I met this peculiar, enthusiastic, bubbly, chirpy kind of person who would try and make a conversation with people who were visiting the cafe. This person tried making conversation even though he could only talk in sign language.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When I wrote this, I had no idea it could be made into a film because this was a non-commercial idea. That thought gave me the freedom to go all out. My characters kept evolving. I didn’t tie them up and let them go whichever way and direction they wanted to, whatever the story demanded.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-vihaan-samat-interview-a-guide-to-getting-to-date-bollywoods-newest-cute-boy-765236">Vihaan Samat Interview: A Guide To Getting To Date Bollywood's Newest Cute Boy</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Q: Did you ever envision a different ending for <em>Berlin</em>?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: No, this was the ending always. It would be slightly unreal to show that these two people found victory against very powerful organisations. But their victory was in the fight that they put up. Their victory was in the fact that one of them gets to make a choice – that I will not let that person die or be in trouble. I think any other ending would have felt fake and filmy as opposed to organic.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch the Berlin film trailer here:</strong></p>

<p><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="716" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZNggGchubZQ" title="Berlin | Official Trailer | A ZEE5 Original Film | Aparshakti K, Rahul B, Ishwak S | Watch Now" width="1268"></iframe>&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/pink-belt-director-john-mccrite-on-telling-aparna-rajawats-story-girl-who-pretended-to-be-a-boy-764534">Pink Belt director John McCrite on telling Aparna Rajawat's story, girl who pretended to be a boy</a></strong></p>


Indian filmmaker Atul Sabharwal recently directed a fast-paced spy thriller starring two amazing talents, Ishwak Singh and Aparshakti Khurana in a film that is set in the 90s.

Indian filmmaker Atul Sabharwal recently directed a fast-paced spy thriller starring two amazing talents, Ishwak Singh and Aparshakti Khurana in a film that is set in the 90s. Sepia-toned New Delhi offered a beautiful canvas for the director to weave a gripping world of lies and deceit and intense drama. The film was released on ZEE5 on September 13. Atul Sabharwal spoke to WION exclusively about evoking a sense of nostalgia with Berlin, how he got the idea for the espionage thriller if he ever envisioned a different ending and more. Here are the edited excerpts of our chat: Q: What is Berlin, the film for you? A: It's a story of an underdog or two underdogs who try to wrestle with the powers that are much more powerful than them. One does it out of his curiosity and inquisitiveness and the other out of his value system where he feels that he needs to protect something. If you look at it, they are both motivated to try and protect the vulnerable. Pushkin tries to protect Ashok. Ashok tries to protect the woman. Q: The film evokes a sense of nostalgia – the colour, tone, the way it’s been shot. If you could tell us a bit about that process? A: The cinematography evolved from whatever the research guided us towards. We asked questions like what did the films of that era look like? What did the buildings look like? What was the costume? Once you have all the answers, you have to narrow down the choices because, in any given era, there is not one specific shade or palette of colour that people are wearing. People at any given point wear all kinds of things. We asked which are the colours that will stay true to the period, but also stay true to the emotion. What are the camera angles or what are the camera movements? I mean, it's a little technical, but those are the decisions that one has to very consciously make. Q: Most spy thrillers tend to be inspired by their predecessors. Berlin has that naive authenticity though. How did you write this film? A: When I started writing it, I had a reference point of a character who was a waiter at a cafe, who was deaf-mute because the cafe employed deaf-mute staff. It was Costa Coffee in Lokhandwala, Mumbai. I met this peculiar, enthusiastic, bubbly, chirpy kind of person who would try and make a conversation with people who were visiting the cafe. This person tried making conversation even though he could only talk in sign language. When I wrote this, I had no idea it could be made into a film because this was a non-commercial idea. That thought gave me the freedom to go all out. My characters kept evolving. I didn’t tie them up and let them go whichever way and direction they wanted to, whatever the story demanded. Also Read: Vihaan Samat Interview: A Guide To Getting To Date Bollywood's Newest Cute Boy Q: Did you ever envision a different ending for Berlin? A: No, this was the ending always. It would be slightly unreal to show that these two people found victory against very powerful organisations. But their victory was in the fight that they put up. Their victory was in the fact that one of them gets to make a choice – that I will not let that person die or be in trouble. I think any other ending would have felt fake and filmy as opposed to organic. Watch the Berlin film trailer here: Also read: Pink Belt director John McCrite on telling Aparna Rajawat's story, girl who pretended to be a boy

Berlin Interview: Director reveals how he got inspiration for Aparshakti-Ishwak starrer spy thriller

<p><em>Sector 36</em> director Aditya Nimbalkar knew he had a difficult task at hand with the film. It could go wrong easily since the film was inspired by real events and depicted evil in its worst form. S<em>ector 36</em> is about a servant and a rich businessman who indulge in barbaric crimes of drugging, killing, raping, organ trading and sometimes consuming children. As graphic as it gets, the psychologically disturbing film is extremely multi-layered with career-great performances from Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal who engage in a cat-and-mouse chase till Prem (Vikrant) gets caught and lays out everything he did unabashedly and with no shame or guilt.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Sector 36</em> director Aditya Nimbalkar spoke about the vision he had for ‘Prem’ who has the potential of becoming a beloved Bollywood villain (only that he was too gruesome to be loved even if for a negative emotion), working with fine actors like Vikrant and Deepak, the vibe on the set of such a chilling film and his chemistry with ace filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.</p>

<p><em><strong>Here are the edited excerpts of our chat:&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>Q: Sector 36 is an amazing film. It truly transports you to the time when we were hearing those horrifying stories about the real crime that happened many years ago. The film has a lingering effect. Did you expect your directorial debut to hit such a nerve with the audience?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: I was hoping it would hit that nerve and have a lingering effect because that means I have done my job decently well.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Vikrant Massey's transformation as Prem in Sector 36</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Q: First <em>12th Fail</em> and now <em>Sector 36</em>. Vikrant Massey is on a high with great performances. His turnaround as Prem has been a surprise in many ways. But how did you know that he would be perfect as Prem?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: Honestly, I didn't have a single drop of doubt that he would be great as Prem. He knew the script before I did. Him and I know each other socially for years. We have been friends. So when I spoke to him, I had no doubt that he'd do it well. I think he took it up as a challenge because he's never done something like this. As a director I knew he’s a very competent and hardworking actor. So I knew he would put in 200%.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Vikrant Massey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e468224f-efc2-46d1-acc9-c1e40e55595e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/HORIZONS%20-%202024-09-25T162448.023.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>Q: What was the&nbsp;brief you had for him?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: A lot of the nuances were also there in the script then when Vikrant and I worked on it, we added some more layers to it, in terms of performance. We just broke down what we do in any film. We broke down the script, like the small mannerisms – how he fixes his hair in the interrogation scene or his body language in general.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When he's in the house, in his own territory, he roams around in shorts but when he's with other people, especially when there's a cop around or something, he's a little neat. Then when he snaps, he changes quickly. The laughter was something we worked on. We tried various options like snickering.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-sector-36-review-vikrant-massey-deepak-dobriyals-performance-draws-you-into-this-gruesome-tale-758274">Sector 36 review: Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal's performances draw you into this gruesome tale&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>Vikrant is that kind of actor and I'm that type of director that we don't leave a lot for on-set improvisation. We do work on it a lot and we prep quite a lot on every scene and talk about every scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Vikrant Massey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7aa0ddf3-f265-4350-9345-84d6ee56d4b6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/HORIZONS%20-%202024-09-25T162525.092.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>Q: Even though we know that this is purely inspired from real-life events, do you think Prem could become one of those iconic villains that Bollywood has produced?</strong></p>

<p>A: Oh man, if it does become that, I'd love it. Villains are some of my favourite characters from Mogambo to Shakaal. If he becomes that down the line, that would be great but a part of me feels that maybe because it's based on a true event, I wish such people didn't exist in the world. &nbsp;But they do, unfortunately. So yeah, it's a little mixed emotion that if people like this kind of a “villain”. But for me as a director and Vikrant as an actor, it would be great.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: We also can’t not talk about Deepak Dopriyal who was a huge surprise in that role.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: Deepak sir, as you said, he's known for his comedy acting but I've seen some of his dramatic work and he's a brilliant dramatic actor. For him too, I was sure he’d kill it in this role. I hope he does more work in drama and not just restrict himself to comedy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Deepak" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="170e91fd-afd2-49e8-a190-7cd9da677472" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/HORIZONS%20-%202024-09-25T162705.087.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>Q: Aditya, what’s something you love about the film?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: From within the film, of course, the interrogation scene is great. The chase is something I really loved shooting. Just the visual of Deepak running in that Ravan get-up will not get out of your head when you see the movie.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: What was the vibe on your set like and where was this film shot?</strong></p>

<p>A: Primarily Delhi, outskirts of Delhi and a few days in Mumbai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for the vibe, it was all very serious. We knew what kind of film we were making. Therefore, everyone was quiet. There was no major joking around and that kind of thing but we also love our work so it wasn’t like we were depressed at work.</p>

<h2><strong>Sector 36 director Aditya's&nbsp;chemistry with Vishal Bhardwaj</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Q: <em>Sector 36</em> has been receiving a lot of love. You, for one, got a thumbs-up from Vishal Bhardwaj. What is your equation with him like?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A: Vishal sir is my mentor. I joined him as an indie on <em>Kaminey</em> back in 2009. I have worked with him for more than 10-11 years. Even though I don't professionally work with him, I meet him every few months. We chat, we talk about life. I have learnt most of my filmmaking from him. He means the world to me. He's almost my second father in a way or an elder brother in that sense.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: Did you ever think of an alternate ending for your film?</strong></p>

<p>No, this had to be the ending because some stories are tragedies. Popular cinema has given us the wrong idea, that all will be great at the end of the day. Sometimes, it doesn’t end well. Not everyone's life is great. Like the victims of this case or any crime. It's unfortunate but that's the way the world is. Shakespeare's best work is a tragedy. <em>Sector 36</em> is a tragic story. I couldn’t have given it a happy ending.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch the trailer of Sector 36 here:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eES65pr2POM" title="Sector 36 | Official Trailer | Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal, Dinesh Vijan | Netflix India" width="1280"></iframe></p>

<p><em>Sector 36</em> released on Netflix on September 13.&nbsp;</p>


Sector 36 director Aditya Nimbalkar knew he had a difficult task at hand with the film. It could go wrong easily since the film was inspired by real events and depicted evil in its worst form.

Sector 36 director Aditya Nimbalkar knew he had a difficult task at hand with the film. It could go wrong easily since the film was inspired by real events and depicted evil in its worst form. Sector 36 is about a servant and a rich businessman who indulge in barbaric crimes of drugging, killing, raping, organ trading and sometimes consuming children. As graphic as it gets, the psychologically disturbing film is extremely multi-layered with career-great performances from Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal who engage in a cat-and-mouse chase till Prem (Vikrant) gets caught and lays out everything he did unabashedly and with no shame or guilt. Sector 36 director Aditya Nimbalkar spoke about the vision he had for ‘Prem’ who has the potential of becoming a beloved Bollywood villain (only that he was too gruesome to be loved even if for a negative emotion), working with fine actors like Vikrant and Deepak, the vibe on the set of such a chilling film and his chemistry with ace filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Here are the edited excerpts of our chat: Q: Sector 36 is an amazing film. It truly transports you to the time when we were hearing those horrifying stories about the real crime that happened many years ago. The film has a lingering effect. Did you expect your directorial debut to hit such a nerve with the audience? A: I was hoping it would hit that nerve and have a lingering effect because that means I have done my job decently well. Vikrant Massey's transformation as Prem in Sector 36 Q: First 12th Fail and now Sector 36. Vikrant Massey is on a high with great performances. His turnaround as Prem has been a surprise in many ways. But how did you know that he would be perfect as Prem? A: Honestly, I didn't have a single drop of doubt that he would be great as Prem. He knew the script before I did. Him and I know each other socially for years. We have been friends. So when I spoke to him, I had no doubt that he'd do it well. I think he took it up as a challenge because he's never done something like this. As a director I knew he’s a very competent and hardworking actor. So I knew he would put in 200%. Q: What was the brief you had for him? A: A lot of the nuances were also there in the script then when Vikrant and I worked on it, we added some more layers to it, in terms of performance. We just broke down what we do in any film. We broke down the script, like the small mannerisms – how he fixes his hair in the interrogation scene or his body language in general. When he's in the house, in his own territory, he roams around in shorts but when he's with other people, especially when there's a cop around or something, he's a little neat. Then when he snaps, he changes quickly. The laughter was something we worked on. We tried various options like snickering. Also read: Sector 36 review: Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal's performances draw you into this gruesome tale Vikrant is that kind of actor and I'm that type of director that we don't leave a lot for on-set improvisation. We do work on it a lot and we prep quite a lot on every scene and talk about every scene. Q: Even though we know that this is purely inspired from real-life events, do you think Prem could become one of those iconic villains that Bollywood has produced? A: Oh man, if it does become that, I'd love it. Villains are some of my favourite characters from Mogambo to Shakaal. If he becomes that down the line, that would be great but a part of me feels that maybe because it's based on a true event, I wish such people didn't exist in the world. But they do, unfortunately. So yeah, it's a little mixed emotion that if people like this kind of a “villain”. But for me as a director and Vikrant as an actor, it would be great. Q: We also can’t not talk about Deepak Dopriyal who was a huge surprise in that role. A: Deepak sir, as you said, he's known for his comedy acting but I've seen some of his dramatic work and he's a brilliant dramatic actor. For him too, I was sure he’d kill it in this role. I hope he does more work in drama and not just restrict himself to comedy. Q: Aditya, what’s something you love about the film? A: From within the film, of course, the interrogation scene is great. The chase is something I really loved shooting. Just the visual of Deepak running in that Ravan get-up will not get out of your head when you see the movie. Q: What was the vibe on your set like and where was this film shot? A: Primarily Delhi, outskirts of Delhi and a few days in Mumbai. As for the vibe, it was all very serious. We knew what kind of film we were making. Therefore, everyone was quiet. There was no major joking around and that kind of thing but we also love our work so it wasn’t like we were depressed at work. Sector 36 director Aditya's chemistry with Vishal Bhardwaj Q: Sector 36 has been receiving a lot of love. You, for one, got a thumbs-up from Vishal Bhardwaj. What is your equation with him like? A: Vishal sir is my mentor. I joined him as an indie on Kaminey back in 2009. I have worked with him for more than 10-11 years. Even though I don't professionally work with him, I meet him every few months. We chat, we talk about life. I have learnt most of my filmmaking from him. He means the world to me. He's almost my second father in a way or an elder brother in that sense. Q: Did you ever think of an alternate ending for your film? No, this had to be the ending because some stories are tragedies. Popular cinema has given us the wrong idea, that all will be great at the end of the day. Sometimes, it doesn’t end well. Not everyone's life is great. Like the victims of this case or any crime. It's unfortunate but that's the way the world is. Shakespeare's best work is a tragedy. Sector 36 is a tragic story. I couldn’t have given it a happy ending. Watch the trailer of Sector 36 here: Sector 36 released on Netflix on September 13.

Can Prem become the next most-hated Bollywood villain? Sector 36 director reflects in Interview

<p>Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjana Sanghi starrer<em> Kadak Singh</em> has been making a buzz much before its official premiere. The mystery film that falls somewhere between the bridges of an emotional drama and a whodunnit, Kadak Singh opened to a crackling response as the makers introduced their film with its trailer at the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-pankaj-tripathis-kadak-singh-opens-iffi-with-trailer-launch-661106">International Film Festival of India</a> in Goa. Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, the film promises to blow away the audience with its story.</p>

<p>The film, <em>Kadak Singh,</em> tells the story of a man who was investigating a financial crime when he found himself in a hospital, in a state of retrograde amnesia with severe memory lapses of his time before the diagnosis and the subsequent hospitalisation. Kadak is played by Pankaj Tripathi who starts discovering who he is and what his life was before the diagnosis. Sanjana plays Sakshi, Kadak’s daughter, whom he has forgotten&nbsp;completely.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>With her film barely a few days away from its official premiere on ZEE5 on December 8, Sanjana spoke about how makers and the cast worked to blend the different genres that this film caters to while giving a performance that will entertain the audiences. She said, “This was something we all had to sit down and work on together as a team. Tony Da, along with his brilliant team of Associate Directors Shami, Anush, Pankaj Sir, and myself, as well as the rest of the cast when required spent a significant amount of time amidst presentations, excel sheets, and flow charts. The script demanded such elements; there were numerous timelines, plot points, etc etc. That one had to really work on it. I won't delve into the technical details because those can be quite boring. It all goes back to just steller writing—figuring out the character arcs while unraveling the thriller was the most enjoyable part.”</p>

<p>Watch the trailer of Kadak Singh here:</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zP0AsKwd_Fo" title="Kadak Singh | Official Trailer | Pankaj T, Sanjana S, Parvathy T | A ZEE5 Original Film | 8 Dec 2023" width="1280"></iframe></p>

<p>She added, "I hadn't realised how much fun it could be to bring emotionality into a thriller, and now that the bug has bitten and I've tasted blood with this, I think it is something that I'm going to keep going back to in my journey ahead because it is such fun as an artist and as a team to get to do that. So yes, it ultimately boils down to thorough preparation, spending time, and striving for brilliant writing. I think these would be the answers."</p>

<p><em>Kadak Singh </em>is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language thriller film directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and produced by WIZ Films along with KVN Productions. In addition to Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjana Sanghi, the film also stars Parvathy Thiruvothu in a prominent role. The film is scheduled to release on 8 December 2023 on ZEE5.</p>


Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjana Sanghi starrer Kadak Singh has been making a buzz much before its official premiere. The mystery film that falls somewhere between the bridges of an emotional drama and a whodunnit, Kadak Singh opened to a crackling response as the makers introduced their film with its trailer at the recently concluded International Film Festival of India in Goa.

Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjana Sanghi starrer Kadak Singh has been making a buzz much before its official premiere. The mystery film that falls somewhere between the bridges of an emotional drama and a whodunnit, Kadak Singh opened to a crackling response as the makers introduced their film with its trailer at the recently concluded International Film Festival of India in Goa. Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, the film promises to blow away the audience with its story. The film, Kadak Singh, tells the story of a man who was investigating a financial crime when he found himself in a hospital, in a state of retrograde amnesia with severe memory lapses of his time before the diagnosis and the subsequent hospitalisation. Kadak is played by Pankaj Tripathi who starts discovering who he is and what his life was before the diagnosis. Sanjana plays Sakshi, Kadak’s daughter, whom he has forgotten completely. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjana Sanghi (@sanjanasanghi96) × With her film barely a few days away from its official premiere on ZEE5 on December 8, Sanjana spoke about how makers and the cast worked to blend the different genres that this film caters to while giving a performance that will entertain the audiences. She said, “This was something we all had to sit down and work on together as a team. Tony Da, along with his brilliant team of Associate Directors Shami, Anush, Pankaj Sir, and myself, as well as the rest of the cast when required spent a significant amount of time amidst presentations, excel sheets, and flow charts. The script demanded such elements; there were numerous timelines, plot points, etc etc. That one had to really work on it. I won't delve into the technical details because those can be quite boring. It all goes back to just steller writing—figuring out the character arcs while unraveling the thriller was the most enjoyable part.” Watch the trailer of Kadak Singh here: She added, "I hadn't realised how much fun it could be to bring emotionality into a thriller, and now that the bug has bitten and I've tasted blood with this, I think it is something that I'm going to keep going back to in my journey ahead because it is such fun as an artist and as a team to get to do that. So yes, it ultimately boils down to thorough preparation, spending time, and striving for brilliant writing. I think these would be the answers." Kadak Singh is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language thriller film directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and produced by WIZ Films along with KVN Productions. In addition to Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjana Sanghi, the film also stars Parvathy Thiruvothu in a prominent role. The film is scheduled to release on 8 December 2023 on ZEE5.

Sanjana Sanghi to WION on what makes her latest film Kadak Singh a must-watch