EXCLUSIVE: “After Inspector Avinash, 7-8 super cops have contacted me to make a show on them” reveals director Neerraj Pathak; also shares why Randeep Hooda wasn’t in favour of breaking the fourth wall
By Keyur Seta Wed May 27 11:18:34 IST
How has the response been to the second season of Inspector Avinash so far?
We have got a phenomenal response from people from all walks of life. Our DMs are full of people asking when Season 3 will arrive. After waiting for 2-3 years when the show is finally released, they are elated to realize that the second season has gone beyond their expectations. I am getting a lot of calls from the police department also; from the likes of IGs, ADIGs, sub-inspectors, etc. In Delhi and Gujarat, people have made (What’s App) groups and are recommending the show through forwards.
The show is based on the real cop Inspector Avinash Mishra. You have made an entertaining show out of his story. While writing, how do you decide how much to dramatize and how much to keep real?
The real Avinash Mishra ji has been a legendary police officer. He has achieved so much in the 90s and later. He was with the STF (Special Task Force) and then in the ATS (Anti-Terror Squad). His story has actually been larger-than-life. In his reel life, I just had to change a few elements and add some fiction, so that we get cinematic beauty. This makes it grander and more entertaining. For example, some villains in his life were of a smaller level. But we have made them appear big. This is because as long as the hero doesn’t face obstacles from villains and grey characters, people won’t get entertainment. But other than this, we have been quite close to reality.
How was your rapport with Randeep Hooda on and off set?
We developed a great rapport. Whatever used to play in my mind, he used to understand without me saying it. He would understand through my expressions. At times creatively if he thought something, he instantly used to share with me asking if he should do something in some way. And Randeep is such a dedicated actor that he doesn’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to playing his character.
There was only one place where we had a creative discussion. He wanted the action to be real. But I felt he should be projected as a big hero in a larger-than-life way. But later in the interviews, he said that he was glad that I didn’t listen to him. He said that this has become his most entertaining and enjoyable show. He enjoyed a lot.
At a lot of places, you have shown Randeep speak directly to the audience, like breaking the fourth wall. What was the thought behind this?
The real Avinash Mishra ji solved different types of cases in his career. But if I show him solve one case after another, people might feel disinterested. I thought of tying all the cases together. This is a unique and a bit of a humorous character. So, I thought what if he directly speaks to the audience while saying something like, ‘Kya lagta hai aapko? Action hoga?’. When he says this, the audience gets involved. The audience gets hooked.
When I wrote this, Randeep was not in favour of this too. He said the audience might not connect and the whole idea might fail. He said you are making me speak to the audience in between all the drama. But I asked him to trust me and let just do and see how it goes. I knew once Randeep will do it, he will enjoy. And when he started doing it, he started asking for more of such scenes (laughs). It became one of the USPs of the show.
You have made two seasons of Inspector Avinash. How are you finding the web medium?
This is a very good medium. The characters get time to grow because this is not a two or two-and-a-half-hour film. Here, the character arc gets made in as many as 10 episodes. In a film, the focus mostly is on the main characters. But in a web series, the other actors from sub-plots also get a chance to grow. Also, as it has a long format, you can easily show multiple tracks and engage people. But OTT has now become so crowded that making good content has now become a challenge.
Do you think a major advantage in the web medium is that there is no interference from the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification)?
There is surely some advantage of this because, till now, OTT hasn’t come under the censors. But there is a guideline given by the government. And we all also follow a guideline. We are from the same society. We know till what level we should go. All filmmakers who are responsible understand this. When you put something to forcefully excite people, they also understand that this isn’t working.
When I am showing criminals, they won’t lovingly say things like, ‘Bhaisahab, aisa kar dijiye’. They will obviously use cuss words. Similarly, policemen have to deal with hardcore criminals. They won’t say, ‘Bhaiya mere, yahan baith ja, kabool kar le’. So, both the parties uttering abuses is normal. But I think there should be self-censorship in every creative person. You will be surprised to know that this show is been seen by women and everyone in families and nobody is finding anything odd. This is because the way people are abusing in the show is very seamless and you feel this is that person’s language.
What are your forthcoming projects?
Just like it happened after the first season, after the second season too around 7-8 top super cops have contacted me and urged me to make a show on their lives. This has happened more after the second season. So, I have become like a brand ambassador of police (laughs). I also like this because police do a lot for us; it’s a thankless job. They keep the roads safe. Our sisters and mothers are able to go out fearlessly. The police have done such a good job in Uttar Pradesh that gundaraj is over. So, maybe, I will take up any one from the cop stories offered to me. Apart from this, I am working on two subjects. One is a web series, which I will start shooting soon within a month or two. And I am writing a major film, which I will start next year.
Also Read: Inspector Avinash Mishra on Randeep Hooda’s portrayal of him in the JioHotstar series, “Watching him on screen felt like revisiting my younger days”