Media is often the most easily abused profession of all, so when we see cinema depicting a newsroom drama that is not dramatised for effect, it’s a welcome change. With Sonali Bendra fronting a role like Amina Qureshi (a seasoned news anchor) and Jaideep Ahlawat as Gaurav Khanna (a TRP-chasing editor) in Vinay Waikul's The Broken News which dropped a new season earlier this month, we quickly got in touch with the director on his vision, working with Sonali Bendre and discussing whether a country’s media can afford to alienate itself from its politics. The Broken News season 2 interestingly dropped at a time when Indians vote to elect their next government&nbsp;and media plays a crucial role in tapping the political mood of the country.&nbsp;

Here are the excerpts from our chat:

Q: Cinema is often said to be a true reflection of the current state of society, at least to a certain degree. Do you agree?

A: I think it should be a reflection of our society and not necessarily every time in a political way. My show offers a political reflection as well as the world media’s reflection. I also feel that all characters should be rooted in reality. If you don’t show the true society then what is the point of making something like this? This is how I feel. There could be others who don’t feel the same way.&nbsp;

Whether it’s a book, film, or series, it should have the ability to make people introspect their lives, take a pause and think through their actions and&nbsp;the impact those actions could have on society.&nbsp;

Q: In context with your show The Broken News, where should we draw the line between fiction and real when it concerns depicting media?&nbsp;

A: I don't think we need to draw a line. It needs to be as seamless as possible. When we're developing a character, it is not based on ‘a’ particular character but a lot of characters come together to make the story happen. The state of media is a true reflection of our society – the way we are, that’s how our media will be, and that’s how our politics will be. Media is like society’s true mirror.

Q: Sonali Bendre plays a headstrong character in the show. What are some things you especially love about the role? How was it directing her? From a 90s film actress to an actress in 2024, how much has changed for women via the lens of a director?

A: Not just Sonali, all our main characters are headstrong. It’s not just me but the writer Sandeep, Nishtha and everyone else in the team of Broken News. As for working with her, it’s been a great pleasure collaborating in both seasons. She's a fabulous actress, and a fabulous human being and the kind of positive energy she brings to the project is commendable.&nbsp;

<img alt="Broken News" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="98680e17-31f9-4379-a2eb-e1e88312d1c6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/HORIZONS%20%2833%29.png" />

Sonali has evolved so much. In season 2, so many have been talking about her work, and how well-nuanced and layered her acting was. Also, I must add that she is extremely disciplined.&nbsp;

Q: As we witness the world’s largest democracy go to elections, your show comes at a time when most accuse media of being partisan to politics. How much can the media alienate itself from politics?

A: I mean, it should. It at least shouldn't be partisan. It should focus on presenting facts and nothing else The media shouldn't be presenting their opinions. Right now, the media only gives their opinion and tries to create a narrative. I mean, the editorials can have a point of view. It’s fine to know what the editor thinks but the entire newspaper can't be creating a narrative from the front page headline to the last one. But sadly that’s what is going on at the moment.&nbsp;

I'm not just talking about newspapers but all news channels. Everything has got an agenda and I'm not talking about a particular party. The media needs to point out the shortcomings of anybody who's ruling. That's their primary job.&nbsp;It’s a very sad state of affairs and I don't know how many years it would take to reverse this. If the course correction doesn't happen soon, then I don't know what kind of society we are going to leave for the next generation.&nbsp;

Watch The Broken News season 2 trailer here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2M29LWMXrdA" title="The Broken News S2 | Official Trailer | Sonali, Jaideep, Shriya | A ZEE5 Original | Watch Now" width="530"></iframe>

The Broken News season 2 is currently&nbsp;streaming on ZEE5.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/priyanka-chopra-channels-queen-energy-in-short-hair-140-carats-serpenti-necklace-for-bulgari-event-723720">Priyanka Chopra channels queen energy in short hair, 140 carats Serpenti necklace for Bulgari event</a>

Media is often the most easily abused profession of all, so when we see cinema depicting a newsroom drama that is not dramatised for effect, it’s a welcome change.

Media is often the most easily abused profession of all, so when we see cinema depicting a newsroom drama that is not dramatised for effect, it’s a welcome change. With Sonali Bendra fronting a role like Amina Qureshi (a seasoned news anchor) and Jaideep Ahlawat as Gaurav Khanna (a TRP-chasing editor) in Vinay Waikul's The Broken News which dropped a new season earlier this month, we quickly got in touch with the director on his vision, working with Sonali Bendre and discussing whether a country’s media can afford to alienate itself from its politics. The Broken News season 2 interestingly dropped at a time when Indians vote to elect their next government and media plays a crucial role in tapping the political mood of the country. Here are the excerpts from our chat: Q: Cinema is often said to be a true reflection of the current state of society, at least to a certain degree. Do you agree? A: I think it should be a reflection of our society and not necessarily every time in a political way. My show offers a political reflection as well as the world media’s reflection. I also feel that all characters should be rooted in reality. If you don’t show the true society then what is the point of making something like this? This is how I feel. There could be others who don’t feel the same way. Whether it’s a book, film, or series, it should have the ability to make people introspect their lives, take a pause and think through their actions and the impact those actions could have on society. Q: In context with your show The Broken News, where should we draw the line between fiction and real when it concerns depicting media? A: I don't think we need to draw a line. It needs to be as seamless as possible. When we're developing a character, it is not based on ‘a’ particular character but a lot of characters come together to make the story happen. The state of media is a true reflection of our society – the way we are, that’s how our media will be, and that’s how our politics will be. Media is like society’s true mirror. Q: Sonali Bendre plays a headstrong character in the show. What are some things you especially love about the role? How was it directing her? From a 90s film actress to an actress in 2024, how much has changed for women via the lens of a director? A: Not just Sonali, all our main characters are headstrong. It’s not just me but the writer Sandeep, Nishtha and everyone else in the team of Broken News. As for working with her, it’s been a great pleasure collaborating in both seasons. She's a fabulous actress, and a fabulous human being and the kind of positive energy she brings to the project is commendable. Sonali has evolved so much. In season 2, so many have been talking about her work, and how well-nuanced and layered her acting was. Also, I must add that she is extremely disciplined. Q: As we witness the world’s largest democracy go to elections, your show comes at a time when most accuse media of being partisan to politics. How much can the media alienate itself from politics? A: I mean, it should. It at least shouldn't be partisan. It should focus on presenting facts and nothing else The media shouldn't be presenting their opinions. Right now, the media only gives their opinion and tries to create a narrative. I mean, the editorials can have a point of view. It’s fine to know what the editor thinks but the entire newspaper can't be creating a narrative from the front page headline to the last one. But sadly that’s what is going on at the moment. I'm not just talking about newspapers but all news channels. Everything has got an agenda and I'm not talking about a particular party. The media needs to point out the shortcomings of anybody who's ruling. That's their primary job. It’s a very sad state of affairs and I don't know how many years it would take to reverse this. If the course correction doesn't happen soon, then I don't know what kind of society we are going to leave for the next generation. Watch The Broken News season 2 trailer here: The Broken News season 2 is currently streaming on ZEE5. Also read: Priyanka Chopra channels queen energy in short hair, 140 carats Serpenti necklace for Bulgari event

Vinay Waikul on working with Sonali Bendre in Broken News, and media's need for course correction

Akshay Oberoi will next be seen in an OTT show as he has been roped in the cast of drama series&nbsp;The Broken News season 2. His character will be a new one and will be introduced in the upcoming season.

The other characters of the show from the previous season are Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar amongst others.

According to the sources, “Akshay Oberoi will soon be part of The Broken News season 2. There have not been many details of his character out yet, since it is in every initial stage. But the filmmakers were keen on casting Akshay for the part as he fits the roles.”

The shoot of the critically acclaimed show, produced by ZEE5 in collaboration with BBC Studios India, will start soon. Akshay Oberoi is currently busy with Fighter, where he plays the role of an air force pilot. The film also stars&nbsp;Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as Indian Air Force pilots. It is slated for release on January 25, 2024. The film is said to be shot across the world and will pay tribute to the sacrifice of the country’s armed forces.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here.</a>

 
&nbsp;

Akshay Oberoi will next be seen in an OTT show as he has been roped in the cast of drama series The Broken News season 2. His character will be a new one and will be introduced in the upcoming season.

Akshay Oberoi will next be seen in an OTT show as he has been roped in the cast of drama series The Broken News season 2. His character will be a new one and will be introduced in the upcoming season. The other characters of the show from the previous season are Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar amongst others. According to the sources, “Akshay Oberoi will soon be part of The Broken News season 2. There have not been many details of his character out yet, since it is in every initial stage. But the filmmakers were keen on casting Akshay for the part as he fits the roles.” The shoot of the critically acclaimed show, produced by ZEE5 in collaboration with BBC Studios India, will start soon. Akshay Oberoi is currently busy with Fighter, where he plays the role of an air force pilot. The film also stars Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as Indian Air Force pilots. It is slated for release on January 25, 2024. The film is said to be shot across the world and will pay tribute to the sacrifice of the country’s armed forces. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Akshay Oberoi to join Shriya Pilgaonkar in The Broken News season 2

‘The Broken News' series, which premiered&nbsp;on June 10 has&nbsp;not only marked Sonali Bendre’s return to acting and a much-talked about OTT debut but also marked ZEE5 and BBC India’s first collaboration. And now a week post its release, the platform, the makers and the actors have all the right reasons to celebrate as ‘The Broken News’ became the most viewed original series of 2022 on ZEE5.

Helmed by Vinay Waikul, ‘The Broken News’ has gone on to clock 100Mn+ streaming minutes and 6Mn+ views in a week since its premiere. Centred around a pair of rival television channels operating out of the same Mumbai building, the 8-part series represents two opposing philosophies of journalism and immerses the viewers in the behind-the-scenes workings of a newsroom. It also addresses some pressing questions and reflects the current realities operating in the world's largest democracy.

Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India said, “We are proud to be delivering on our promise of presenting real and relatable stories with “The Broken News”; a series which authentically showcases the complications in the world of news media. We are happy to have partnered with BBC India to deliver a fitting show which is in line with our content strategy of keeping the viewers at the centre of the business and are looking forward to more such successful collaborations in the future”.

Nimisha Pandey, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Originals, ZEE5 said, “The Broken News is very close to our heart and one of the most courageous shows we have created until now. Set in today’s contemporary world, it attempts to authentically depict the world of TV journalism and the era of breaking news in all its shades, making for an engaging and thought-provoking watch. It is heartening to see an encouraging response from the viewers, and it strengthens our belief that the audiences today are eager to accept complex storytelling and flawed characters. Director Vinay Vaikul has managed to successfully weave these complex characters into a compelling story, and it was an absolute pleasure collaborating with BBC India for this show. We could not have been happier to have phenomenal actors like Sonali Bendre, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Jaideep Ahlawat with a bunch of other fantastic actors to bring these characters to life.”

Sonali Bendre said, “I am overwhelmed with all the love we have received for The Broken News. The fact that our content has stirred conversation around the key theme is a sign of the connect it has made with the audience, which to me is the most important part. For me personally, the feedback and support I’ve received for my portrayal of Amina from audience and critics alike, has been amazing and I am very thankful for it. I’m so glad to be back doing what I love and I’m looking forward to what the future has in store. I could not have done this without the support of the amazing team at ZEE5, BBC India and our amazing director, cast and crew. I think reasons enough for a second season… what say?”.

Jaideep Ahlawat said, “I am overjoyed reading all the comments and reviews for The Broken News. I didn't expect for people to fall in love with my portrayal of the character of Dipankar Sanyal, given his flaws, but it's good to know that people have loved him despite that. I try to pick different characters to play each time I choose a project, and I am glad that the risks I took in playing this character have paid off with so many people. The challenge for every actor playing a flawed character is to make it believable and even likeable”.

Shriya Pilgaonkar said, “I am so overwhelmed by the critics appreciation and the audience love for my character Radha in The Broken News. I have received so many messages from journalists and news reporters that they truly connected to the story of the show and all the characters. I couldn’t have asked for more and I am so grateful for this creatively fulfilling experience”.

‘The Broken News' series, which premiered on June 10 has not only marked Sonali Bendre’s return to acting and a much-talked about OTT debut but also marked ZEE5 and BBC India’s first collaboration.

‘The Broken News' series, which premiered on June 10 has not only marked Sonali Bendre’s return to acting and a much-talked about OTT debut but also marked ZEE5 and BBC India’s first collaboration. And now a week post its release, the platform, the makers and the actors have all the right reasons to celebrate as ‘The Broken News’ became the most viewed original series of 2022 on ZEE5. Helmed by Vinay Waikul, ‘The Broken News’ has gone on to clock 100Mn+ streaming minutes and 6Mn+ views in a week since its premiere. Centred around a pair of rival television channels operating out of the same Mumbai building, the 8-part series represents two opposing philosophies of journalism and immerses the viewers in the behind-the-scenes workings of a newsroom. It also addresses some pressing questions and reflects the current realities operating in the world's largest democracy. Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India said, “We are proud to be delivering on our promise of presenting real and relatable stories with “The Broken News”; a series which authentically showcases the complications in the world of news media. We are happy to have partnered with BBC India to deliver a fitting show which is in line with our content strategy of keeping the viewers at the centre of the business and are looking forward to more such successful collaborations in the future”. Nimisha Pandey, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Originals, ZEE5 said, “The Broken News is very close to our heart and one of the most courageous shows we have created until now. Set in today’s contemporary world, it attempts to authentically depict the world of TV journalism and the era of breaking news in all its shades, making for an engaging and thought-provoking watch. It is heartening to see an encouraging response from the viewers, and it strengthens our belief that the audiences today are eager to accept complex storytelling and flawed characters. Director Vinay Vaikul has managed to successfully weave these complex characters into a compelling story, and it was an absolute pleasure collaborating with BBC India for this show. We could not have been happier to have phenomenal actors like Sonali Bendre, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Jaideep Ahlawat with a bunch of other fantastic actors to bring these characters to life.” Sonali Bendre said, “I am overwhelmed with all the love we have received for The Broken News. The fact that our content has stirred conversation around the key theme is a sign of the connect it has made with the audience, which to me is the most important part. For me personally, the feedback and support I’ve received for my portrayal of Amina from audience and critics alike, has been amazing and I am very thankful for it. I’m so glad to be back doing what I love and I’m looking forward to what the future has in store. I could not have done this without the support of the amazing team at ZEE5, BBC India and our amazing director, cast and crew. I think reasons enough for a second season… what say?”. Jaideep Ahlawat said, “I am overjoyed reading all the comments and reviews for The Broken News. I didn't expect for people to fall in love with my portrayal of the character of Dipankar Sanyal, given his flaws, but it's good to know that people have loved him despite that. I try to pick different characters to play each time I choose a project, and I am glad that the risks I took in playing this character have paid off with so many people. The challenge for every actor playing a flawed character is to make it believable and even likeable”. Shriya Pilgaonkar said, “I am so overwhelmed by the critics appreciation and the audience love for my character Radha in The Broken News. I have received so many messages from journalists and news reporters that they truly connected to the story of the show and all the characters. I couldn’t have asked for more and I am so grateful for this creatively fulfilling experience”.

‘The Broken News’ becomes the most viewed original series of 2022 on ZEE5

In 2018, a wave of sadness was felt across India, when Bollywood star Sonali Bendre Behl announced that she was diagnosed with cancer. Today she has managed to treat it like a story of the past. 
 
As she sits here with WION, she returns with a lot of energy despite back-to-back interviews and promotions, which were scheduled before this exclusive conversation. Sonali Bendre is making her debut on the OTT platform with her latest venture in 'The Broken News'. Although she worked in numerous films while shooting for 'The Broken News', Bendre&nbsp;felt like a complete newcomer and arrived with a lot of nervousness. In this conversation, she shares why.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-broken-news-review-jaideep-ahlawat-shriya-pilgaonkar-save-this-middling-series-487035">The Broken News review: Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar save this middling series</a>

 
This is not a regular OTT debut, or come back, but rather right now as we sit here and talk, I see this as you fighting cancer, and coming back to work again.&nbsp; 
 
Wow, that's a nice way of looking at it. The point is that I am alive, I am back, and I am back in action, so that's a plus. But yes, it's been a while since I did fiction, or OTT platform pe toh pehli baar aa rahi hoon (rather it's my first time on OTT platform), so it's different, it's exciting, but nervous also. I have to be honest, I am very nervous about it. 
 
What was your life mantra after you managed to beat cancer?&nbsp; 
 
I think my hashtags said it all, #switchonthesunshine, #onedayatatime, and where this is concerned now, I think today only while talking to somebody I said one step at a time, so I think those are the mantras that, simple things are what are the ideal and the best mantras in life because they are doable, and you can continue with them and one thing that 2018 has taught me&nbsp;is that its the simple things that are important.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/manushi-chhillars-journey-from-a-medical-student-to-akshay-kumars-leading-lady-in-samrat-prithviraj-487100">Exclusive: Manushi Chhillar opens up about her life in spotlight: Miss World to Akshay Kumar’s leading lady</a>

Don't want to dig past graves, but do you remember the initial reaction when you were first diagnosed with cancer?&nbsp; 
 
It was shocking! The fact that this diagnosis had happened, the fact that I was going through it and all of that, but now as I look back, after all those years of acting in movies, I never thought that I was loved so much. Look, you're an actor, you know you're liked, somebody might like your hair, the way you look, it's the dress, it's some story, it's some actor you've worked with, there are so many factors, but for people to be so concerned, that means they loved ME, and for me that was shocking.

I mean, I didn't realise that I had so much love. It was humbling, and it just also made me feel a bit responsible and I don't know what I'll do about that but I do feel like, every time I feel like..., you know how it's like when I always say that about my parents, my mother especially.

My mother never came on the sets with me, she was always like you know, agar aap kaam pe jaate (if you'd go to work), I wouldn't be sitting on that desk next to you, so just you're going to work and I have a daughter at home and I am busy with that. So, you'll come back. And you know, the thing was that whenever my mother has stopped me from doing something, I have definitely done it. Here, it was that my mother was letting me do things and she was not there to say "stop doing this", "don't do that", and suddenly I felt responsible. I felt like, I needed to, she has shown so much of faith in me and I felt like I needed to live up to it, which was not me as a youngster.

So, I just grew up, you know. So, when you talk to my mother, even today she'll say that I was very naughty, and she used to be frustrated with me, which is very unlike the grown-up me, and that change happened when I started movies because I just grew up. And something similar happened to me with this, because I never expected that there's so much love,&nbsp;like I said that you feel that the love is for these various roles, and these reasons, but this showed me that they loved me. And suddenly it makes me feel responsible, I feel like, I don't want to let people down, I don't want to be affected so much also, but it does affect me because I do feel so humbled and I feel that gratitude, that I want to live up to it, kind of a sort. 
 
You are working with Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar. Two of the people who have become well known for OTT.&nbsp; 
 
They are the veterans and I am the newcomer. (Sonali laughs).&nbsp; 
 
I didn't feel like I was an experienced actor, I felt like a newcomer. Also, because the industry has changed so much, everything has changed so much, you know the technique has changed, cameras are so different, in fact, I was talking to somebody the other day and I said that you know, in our time cameras were these huge things, and you know there was, you knew that the camera was on, they made sounds, you shot on films, which was very expensive, so you rehearsed more and you kind of shot it and so you did as little as you could, wasted as little as you could. You're doing digital cameras, now you can shoot as much as you want, so directors are shooting from every angle, the whole scene is shot from some 5-6 angles, which never happened in our times, and like I said cameras are smaller, and suddenly there are all these gadgets and contraptions they come on.

I mean, you know if a camera moved, it was a crane or a dolly, it was a huge process. Now, suddenly there are these little cameras and they are kind of sneaking up on you, so it just puts you off a bit. It's like...it's a bit different. So, I did not feel like I was experienced, I felt like a newcomer, so the way you act, changes, the way OTT is also, the screenplay is also different from films, it's like a longer film to a certain degree but the way the screenplay is different, the way you're kind of doing, so the technique, the writing, the direction, the way you're acting, the lenses have changed, the make-up and hair has changed, the clothes are different, so, it's so much more real now, and you can't have like a mask on anymore. So, all the things that were for putting on a mask are not that much, so I definitely did not feel like an experienced person. I was very nervous and I did feel like a newcomer on the set. Ya, nervous because there were so many changes. 
 
So back then when cameras were expensive and when you made mistakes, did you get a lot of scolding or something?&nbsp; 
 
No, not scolding but you were definitely aware of how expensive film was, so if you made a mistake, you did feel that stress that was felt from the production, from the direction, `to everybody was like "Oh my god, we are wasting a lot of footage", and you could feel that energy. So, on digital that energy is not there. 
 
But I am used to doing it quicker, so when I have to do it so many times that's a different kind of pattern and challenge, when you do the same thing so many times and then yet to make it feel like you're doing it for the first time. It was a challenge. Nowadays I see you make reels with your co-stars, a different kind of mix and mingling isn't it from what it used to be back then?&nbsp; 
 
Oh, we mixed and mingled very well back then also, I mean they are my friends still today and it's been a lifetime and we are still friends so... 
Ya, but there was no social media so probably you guys didn't see the way we were mixing or mingling but you know that was there, we had our own socialising or meeting, we were working so much that it was not like you were constantly but every time we were promoting, or you're working, or you're outdoor, you do end up spending the time. 
 
So you are playing a journalist in your OTT debut.&nbsp; 
 
I'm the editor-in-chief. 
 
What did you like or dislike about our profession?&nbsp; 
 
There's nothing to dislike, I mean, every profession is different from the other so there's nothing to dislike. I don't know if I would say like but I think what I understood, and what was kind of like an eye-opener was I'd say, was what happens behind the headline or the drama in the newsroom or the struggle to get that byline, you know for a journalist how important that is to get that byline, and the struggle that happens till you get that byline and so for Ameena Qureshi, which is my character, she's the editor-in-chief, and I say that everytime you say journalist, is because yes, she is a journalist but she's editor-in-chief because I definitely felt that for her to become the editor-in-chief, she started rookie intern, new reporter, correspondant, deputy editor, I don't know there's so many levels that she has crossed and she has reached editor-in-chief, and we're two women talking, we know that for... in any career for a woman, she needs to work three times as hard as a man, and there's so many glass ceiling, so for Ameena Qureshi to have reached this position, she really had to be made of... and she really had to be as strong as nails, to be able to reach that position and to keep that position. 
 
Do you remember when you decided to be an actress?&nbsp; 
 
I never decided to be an actress. I am an accidental actor. It just happened, I kept getting the roles, so I kept doing them and the money was good, and I was doing it for the money. That's what it was. Yes, what happened is, on the way somewhere I did fall in love with this job but it didn't start off like that. 
 
Just minutes before this interview, I saw you admiring the length of your hair.&nbsp;

Ya, because you know today it's a bit long so it's not been this long for a while and so I was feeling a bit strange. So, you see I was so used to long hair and then suddenly it was no hair, and that was strange and that was different, and look at me now, I am so used to short hair that I am finding the long hair irritating. So, you see how we adapt, that's a human being for you.

You are a beauty icon who proudly shared photos of going bald during cancer.&nbsp; 
 
Ya, it was also because the moment you are scared, you are going to hide and my instinct was to hide and I did not want to hide. So, the moment you step out and the moment you have put it out, the whole world has seen it. Ab kya chupaoge ? (What will you hide now?) So, you know, I do that a lot of times when people say, "Oh, you were so brave" and "You were being such a...", I was not being brave, I was just trying to survive, I was just trying to you know...tackle. I feel the instinct to hide and not meet people and...let me break that. So, it was just to break it, it was just to liberate myself, I was only helping myself.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-exclusive-sonali-bendre-speaks-about-her-cancer-journey-and-ott-debut-487393/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
&nbsp;

In 2018, a wave of sadness was felt across India, when Bollywood star Sonali Bendre Behl announced that she was diagnosed with cancer. Today she has managed to treat it like a story of the past.

In 2018, a wave of sadness was felt across India, when Bollywood star Sonali Bendre Behl announced that she was diagnosed with cancer. Today she has managed to treat it like a story of the past. As she sits here with WION, she returns with a lot of energy despite back-to-back interviews and promotions, which were scheduled before this exclusive conversation. Sonali Bendre is making her debut on the OTT platform with her latest venture in 'The Broken News'. Although she worked in numerous films while shooting for 'The Broken News', Bendre felt like a complete newcomer and arrived with a lot of nervousness. In this conversation, she shares why. Also read: The Broken News review: Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar save this middling series This is not a regular OTT debut, or come back, but rather right now as we sit here and talk, I see this as you fighting cancer, and coming back to work again. Wow, that's a nice way of looking at it. The point is that I am alive, I am back, and I am back in action, so that's a plus. But yes, it's been a while since I did fiction, or OTT platform pe toh pehli baar aa rahi hoon (rather it's my first time on OTT platform), so it's different, it's exciting, but nervous also. I have to be honest, I am very nervous about it. What was your life mantra after you managed to beat cancer? I think my hashtags said it all, #switchonthesunshine, #onedayatatime, and where this is concerned now, I think today only while talking to somebody I said one step at a time, so I think those are the mantras that, simple things are what are the ideal and the best mantras in life because they are doable, and you can continue with them and one thing that 2018 has taught me is that its the simple things that are important. Also read: Exclusive: Manushi Chhillar opens up about her life in spotlight: Miss World to Akshay Kumar’s leading lady Don't want to dig past graves, but do you remember the initial reaction when you were first diagnosed with cancer? It was shocking! The fact that this diagnosis had happened, the fact that I was going through it and all of that, but now as I look back, after all those years of acting in movies, I never thought that I was loved so much. Look, you're an actor, you know you're liked, somebody might like your hair, the way you look, it's the dress, it's some story, it's some actor you've worked with, there are so many factors, but for people to be so concerned, that means they loved ME, and for me that was shocking. I mean, I didn't realise that I had so much love. It was humbling, and it just also made me feel a bit responsible and I don't know what I'll do about that but I do feel like, every time I feel like..., you know how it's like when I always say that about my parents, my mother especially. My mother never came on the sets with me, she was always like you know, agar aap kaam pe jaate (if you'd go to work), I wouldn't be sitting on that desk next to you, so just you're going to work and I have a daughter at home and I am busy with that. So, you'll come back. And you know, the thing was that whenever my mother has stopped me from doing something, I have definitely done it. Here, it was that my mother was letting me do things and she was not there to say "stop doing this", "don't do that", and suddenly I felt responsible. I felt like, I needed to, she has shown so much of faith in me and I felt like I needed to live up to it, which was not me as a youngster. So, I just grew up, you know. So, when you talk to my mother, even today she'll say that I was very naughty, and she used to be frustrated with me, which is very unlike the grown-up me, and that change happened when I started movies because I just grew up. And something similar happened to me with this, because I never expected that there's so much love, like I said that you feel that the love is for these various roles, and these reasons, but this showed me that they loved me. And suddenly it makes me feel responsible, I feel like, I don't want to let people down, I don't want to be affected so much also, but it does affect me because I do feel so humbled and I feel that gratitude, that I want to live up to it, kind of a sort. You are working with Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar. Two of the people who have become well known for OTT. They are the veterans and I am the newcomer. (Sonali laughs). I didn't feel like I was an experienced actor, I felt like a newcomer. Also, because the industry has changed so much, everything has changed so much, you know the technique has changed, cameras are so different, in fact, I was talking to somebody the other day and I said that you know, in our time cameras were these huge things, and you know there was, you knew that the camera was on, they made sounds, you shot on films, which was very expensive, so you rehearsed more and you kind of shot it and so you did as little as you could, wasted as little as you could. You're doing digital cameras, now you can shoot as much as you want, so directors are shooting from every angle, the whole scene is shot from some 5-6 angles, which never happened in our times, and like I said cameras are smaller, and suddenly there are all these gadgets and contraptions they come on. I mean, you know if a camera moved, it was a crane or a dolly, it was a huge process. Now, suddenly there are these little cameras and they are kind of sneaking up on you, so it just puts you off a bit. It's like...it's a bit different. So, I did not feel like I was experienced, I felt like a newcomer, so the way you act, changes, the way OTT is also, the screenplay is also different from films, it's like a longer film to a certain degree but the way the screenplay is different, the way you're kind of doing, so the technique, the writing, the direction, the way you're acting, the lenses have changed, the make-up and hair has changed, the clothes are different, so, it's so much more real now, and you can't have like a mask on anymore. So, all the things that were for putting on a mask are not that much, so I definitely did not feel like an experienced person. I was very nervous and I did feel like a newcomer on the set. Ya, nervous because there were so many changes. So back then when cameras were expensive and when you made mistakes, did you get a lot of scolding or something? No, not scolding but you were definitely aware of how expensive film was, so if you made a mistake, you did feel that stress that was felt from the production, from the direction, `to everybody was like "Oh my god, we are wasting a lot of footage", and you could feel that energy. So, on digital that energy is not there. But I am used to doing it quicker, so when I have to do it so many times that's a different kind of pattern and challenge, when you do the same thing so many times and then yet to make it feel like you're doing it for the first time. It was a challenge. Nowadays I see you make reels with your co-stars, a different kind of mix and mingling isn't it from what it used to be back then? Oh, we mixed and mingled very well back then also, I mean they are my friends still today and it's been a lifetime and we are still friends so... Ya, but there was no social media so probably you guys didn't see the way we were mixing or mingling but you know that was there, we had our own socialising or meeting, we were working so much that it was not like you were constantly but every time we were promoting, or you're working, or you're outdoor, you do end up spending the time. So you are playing a journalist in your OTT debut. I'm the editor-in-chief. What did you like or dislike about our profession? There's nothing to dislike, I mean, every profession is different from the other so there's nothing to dislike. I don't know if I would say like but I think what I understood, and what was kind of like an eye-opener was I'd say, was what happens behind the headline or the drama in the newsroom or the struggle to get that byline, you know for a journalist how important that is to get that byline, and the struggle that happens till you get that byline and so for Ameena Qureshi, which is my character, she's the editor-in-chief, and I say that everytime you say journalist, is because yes, she is a journalist but she's editor-in-chief because I definitely felt that for her to become the editor-in-chief, she started rookie intern, new reporter, correspondant, deputy editor, I don't know there's so many levels that she has crossed and she has reached editor-in-chief, and we're two women talking, we know that for... in any career for a woman, she needs to work three times as hard as a man, and there's so many glass ceiling, so for Ameena Qureshi to have reached this position, she really had to be made of... and she really had to be as strong as nails, to be able to reach that position and to keep that position. Do you remember when you decided to be an actress? I never decided to be an actress. I am an accidental actor. It just happened, I kept getting the roles, so I kept doing them and the money was good, and I was doing it for the money. That's what it was. Yes, what happened is, on the way somewhere I did fall in love with this job but it didn't start off like that. Just minutes before this interview, I saw you admiring the length of your hair. Ya, because you know today it's a bit long so it's not been this long for a while and so I was feeling a bit strange. So, you see I was so used to long hair and then suddenly it was no hair, and that was strange and that was different, and look at me now, I am so used to short hair that I am finding the long hair irritating. So, you see how we adapt, that's a human being for you. You are a beauty icon who proudly shared photos of going bald during cancer. Ya, it was also because the moment you are scared, you are going to hide and my instinct was to hide and I did not want to hide. So, the moment you step out and the moment you have put it out, the whole world has seen it. Ab kya chupaoge ? (What will you hide now?) So, you know, I do that a lot of times when people say, "Oh, you were so brave" and "You were being such a...", I was not being brave, I was just trying to survive, I was just trying to you know...tackle. I feel the instinct to hide and not meet people and...let me break that. So, it was just to break it, it was just to liberate myself, I was only helping myself.

Exclusive: Sonali Bendre talks about her cancer battle, acting comeback & more!

Sonali Bendre is finally making her much-awaited debut with director Vinay Waikul's series 'The Broken News'. Apart from Sonali, the movie also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar in pivotal roles.&nbsp; 
 
Prior to this, Vinay recieved a lot of praise for his Netflix drama 'Aranyak' which marked the digital debut of 90's fame Raveena Tandon. Bankrolled by BBC Studios, the fourthcoming series is an official adaptation of the popular British series ‘Press’ and needless to say the story is most relevant in today's time.&nbsp;In the series, Sonali is playing the role of a fair journalist Amina Qureshi, who wants to deliver fair and unbiased news to the public. 
 
Meanwhile, Jaideep, who we have seen in many acclaimed movies and shows including 'Raazi', and 'Gangs of Wasseypur', is also playing a role of a top journalist Dipankar Sanyal but with different values. And amid all, Shriya is just grabbing eyes with her intriguing character of Radha Bhargava. 
 
Whether it's Sonali, who's looking just perfect as Amina in the trailer, or Jaideep, who has somewhere&nbsp;again done a splendid job with his complicated and nuanced character of Dipankar.&nbsp;

Recently, Vinay shared his casting experience and said that the combination of Sonali, Jaideep &amp; Shriya felt right. ''The casting process is something which obviously took a lot of time. But once we came across the combination of Sonali, Jaideep &amp; Shriya we felt that 'This is it' and it felt just right,'' he said.&nbsp; 
 
''When we approached them, convincing them didn’t take time at all. They seemed very hooked to the script and series instantly. And we're happy that we went ahead with these choices.All of us felt like we finally had found our Dibankar, Amina &amp; Radha,'' he concluded.&nbsp;

The movie&nbsp;will&nbsp;premiere on 10th June in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada and will be available&nbsp;on ZEE5.

Sonali Bendre is finally making her much-awaited debut with director Vinay Waikul's series 'The Broken News'. Apart from Sonali, the movie also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar in pivotal roles.

Sonali Bendre is finally making her much-awaited debut with director Vinay Waikul's series 'The Broken News'. Apart from Sonali, the movie also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Shriya Pilgaonkar in pivotal roles. Prior to this, Vinay recieved a lot of praise for his Netflix drama 'Aranyak' which marked the digital debut of 90's fame Raveena Tandon. Bankrolled by BBC Studios, the fourthcoming series is an official adaptation of the popular British series ‘Press’ and needless to say the story is most relevant in today's time. In the series, Sonali is playing the role of a fair journalist Amina Qureshi, who wants to deliver fair and unbiased news to the public. Meanwhile, Jaideep, who we have seen in many acclaimed movies and shows including 'Raazi', and 'Gangs of Wasseypur', is also playing a role of a top journalist Dipankar Sanyal but with different values. And amid all, Shriya is just grabbing eyes with her intriguing character of Radha Bhargava. Whether it's Sonali, who's looking just perfect as Amina in the trailer, or Jaideep, who has somewhere again done a splendid job with his complicated and nuanced character of Dipankar. Recently, Vinay shared his casting experience and said that the combination of Sonali, Jaideep & Shriya felt right. ''The casting process is something which obviously took a lot of time. But once we came across the combination of Sonali, Jaideep & Shriya we felt that 'This is it' and it felt just right,'' he said. ''When we approached them, convincing them didn’t take time at all. They seemed very hooked to the script and series instantly. And we're happy that we went ahead with these choices.All of us felt like we finally had found our Dibankar, Amina & Radha,'' he concluded. The movie will premiere on 10th June in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada and will be available on ZEE5.

Director Vinay Waikul on 'The Broken News' casting process: Sonali, Jaideep & Shriya felt just right

With yet another exciting original series&nbsp;‘The Broken News’, India’s largest homegrown OTT platform&nbsp;ZEE5&nbsp;is all set to entertain its viewers. With actress&nbsp;Sonali Bendre and&nbsp;Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead, the series sees&nbsp;Shriya Pilgaonkar, Taaruk Raina, Indraneil Sengupta, Faisal Rashid, Kiran Kumar, Aakash Khurana and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya playing&nbsp;pivotal roles.

To treat its subscribers, ZEE5 unveiled the trailer of ‘The Broken News’ today. And, the series will&nbsp;premiere on 10th June in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada and will be accessible across 190+ countries only on ZEE5.

Bankrolled by BBC Studios India and helmed&nbsp;by Vinay Waikul, the series is an official adaptation of the popular British series ‘Press’.

Here is the trailer:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/irXhEK23yEU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

This web series mark both Sonali Bendre’s comeback to acting as well as her digital debut. When asked about the series, the actress said,&nbsp;“I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction on OTT platforms than with ‘The Broken News’ on ZEE5. I connected with the concept as soon as I heard it as It’s so relevant for the times we’re living in. The entire crew and my amazing co-stars Jaideep and Shriya made my return to acting such an amazing experience. I’m so excited to share what we’ve created.”

Talking about his role,&nbsp;Jaideep Ahlawat&nbsp;said, “I love exploring complicated and nuanced characters and Dipankar Sanyal is one such dream character. We are poles apart and maybe that’s why it was so much fun walking in his shoes.”&nbsp;

He further added, “Also, it was a pleasure collaborating with ZEE5 again and with BBC Studios for the first time. I am excited for the show’s premiere, and I am certain it will make a strong impression on public.”

Director Vinay Waikul also shared more details about the film in an interaction. He said, “We are all exposed to the daily news but not many of us know what goes on behind the show. It is a lot of politics, drama, lies, betrayal, sacrifices and compromises. ‘The Broken News’ is a story worth telling and I am grateful that I got the support from my producers, cast and crew to bring my vision to life. ‘The Broken News’ is unlike any else on Indian television and I hope that it reaches the audience far and wide”.

&nbsp;

With yet another exciting original series ‘The Broken News’, India’s largest homegrown OTT platform ZEE5 is all set to entertain its viewers. With actress Sonali Bendre and Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead, the series sees Shriya Pilgaonkar, Taaruk Raina, Indraneil Sengupta, Faisal Rashid, Kiran Kumar, Aakash Khurana and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya playing pivotal roles.

With yet another exciting original series ‘The Broken News’, India’s largest homegrown OTT platform ZEE5 is all set to entertain its viewers. With actress Sonali Bendre and Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead, the series sees Shriya Pilgaonkar, Taaruk Raina, Indraneil Sengupta, Faisal Rashid, Kiran Kumar, Aakash Khurana and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya playing pivotal roles. To treat its subscribers, ZEE5 unveiled the trailer of ‘The Broken News’ today. And, the series will premiere on 10th June in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada and will be accessible across 190+ countries only on ZEE5. Bankrolled by BBC Studios India and helmed by Vinay Waikul, the series is an official adaptation of the popular British series ‘Press’. Here is the trailer: This web series mark both Sonali Bendre’s comeback to acting as well as her digital debut. When asked about the series, the actress said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction on OTT platforms than with ‘The Broken News’ on ZEE5. I connected with the concept as soon as I heard it as It’s so relevant for the times we’re living in. The entire crew and my amazing co-stars Jaideep and Shriya made my return to acting such an amazing experience. I’m so excited to share what we’ve created.” Talking about his role, Jaideep Ahlawat said, “I love exploring complicated and nuanced characters and Dipankar Sanyal is one such dream character. We are poles apart and maybe that’s why it was so much fun walking in his shoes.” He further added, “Also, it was a pleasure collaborating with ZEE5 again and with BBC Studios for the first time. I am excited for the show’s premiere, and I am certain it will make a strong impression on public.” Director Vinay Waikul also shared more details about the film in an interaction. He said, “We are all exposed to the daily news but not many of us know what goes on behind the show. It is a lot of politics, drama, lies, betrayal, sacrifices and compromises. ‘The Broken News’ is a story worth telling and I am grateful that I got the support from my producers, cast and crew to bring my vision to life. ‘The Broken News’ is unlike any else on Indian television and I hope that it reaches the audience far and wide”.

‘The Broken News’ trailer out now! Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat reveal dark secrets of a newsroom

the-broken-news

The Broken News, News on The Broken News, stories on The Broken News, articles on The Broken News, The Broken News stories at Wion, The Broken News news, The Broken News latest news

the broken-news

Vinay Waikul on working with Sonali Bendre in Broken News, and media's need for course correction

Akshay Oberoi to join Shriya Pilgaonkar in The Broken News season 2

‘The Broken News’ becomes the most viewed original series of 2022 on ZEE5

Exclusive: Sonali Bendre talks about her cancer battle, acting comeback & more!

Director Vinay Waikul on 'The Broken News' casting process: Sonali, Jaideep & Shriya felt just right

‘The Broken News’ trailer out now! Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat reveal dark secrets of a newsroom