The start of a magnum opus on small screen
In an intensive interview with NIKITA WADHAWAN Goldie Behl talks about his new TV serial, return of Remix TV series and much more...
Filmmaker Goldie Behl is back on television after a hiatus of two years. His last venture on TV was a finite serial Reporter, was loosely based on Jeff Daniel-starrer The Newsroom. Collaborating again with sister Shrishti Arya, Goldie returns with a period drama Aarambh which is also one of the most expensive TV serial right now. While the Drona filmmaker dismisses the comparison to Baahubali, he admits that there will be similarities as it is written by the same mind that brought us the most successful film of recent times. Excerpts from the interview...
How did you come up with the idea to make a period serial on such a large scale?
We have been working on Aarambh for over a year now, so it took some time to develop it. The idea obviously came from Vijayendra Prasad, I was interacting with him on various ideas and this was one of them. I asked him if he was interested in developing it into a TV series, and then my partner Shristi was in touch with Star TV who loved the idea. From there on it became a long process to develop the entire season, then we had to para dub, and now we have been shooting for 2-3 months. So it has taken its own sweet time, more than it did with Reporters.
People have been talking about the striking similarities Aarambh has to Baahubali, you also have a character named Devasena. Even the look of the serial has strong resemblance to Baahubali…
A lot of people also said it looked like Drona. Of course, the writer of the serial is also the brains behind the magnum opus. Aarambh has nothing to do with Baahubali, the serial is a clash of civilisation – between Aryans and Dravidians. On the story level, it has nothing to do with the movie. Whereas the name Devasena goes, Vijendra just likes that name. Moreover, we could have launched the show before Baahubali 2 as well and then you would say that the movie is based on the TV series. Since it is the same mind working on it, there will be similarities.
Why a TV series, whereas all your contemporaries are jumping into the web medium?
It required a big budget but still, it was not enough to make it (laughs). The production of the show required a lot of money and then we required a platform that could exploit it. But the serial will come on Hotstar in some time. Moreover, if someone is putting crores of money into it, they need to be sure about it and do their own verification of where there will be maximum returns.
TV is also a very competitive market, how do stand out and leave a mark?
I had the fortune meet the head of Fox and he told me a mantra that is so app – be native but think international. That is something that is the crux of any regional work. You need to have the ‘desi’ feel but have the potential to go international with it.You have to match up to their benchmark, but the stories should have your special feel to it. That is what we are trying to do with Aarmbh as well.We are trying to bring to the people a debatable Indian history.
How are you liking the concept of a season? Something that we have adopted from the west…
I think it is a great concept. Also, we have a finite story so you need to move at a certain space and in a certain direction. Moreover, you also need experience people to work on it. It is a 6 months or a one year job and then everyone can go and explore more areas. Then they can also come back if they like working with each other (laughs).
How was it working with Tanuja Mukherjee?
Tanuja ma’am is my Jedi. I call her my Yoda. She is the coolest.
How did you discover Karthika Nair?
I found her online. I was searching for someone who would suit this role and then I saw her. So, I dug deeper to see who this girl is and then I found out she has worked with Chetaniya in a Telugu film. We found out she was Radha’s daughter, so I told my team to track her down. After they got in touch with her, she came down to the studio for the narration.
Talking about the cast, did you have specific people in mind for certain roles?
The Aryan and the Dravidians have very diverse looks and very different in their characteristics. So, locked on the cast once we had the detail of the look of all the characters. Then we started working with Star as they are also very particular about their star cast. There a lot of new faces apart from our main cast as well.
People in the industry have come out to praise you for it. How does that feel?
They are my friends, they will say anything is good for me! I am happier that people at large have been liking the trailer. Whereas my friends are my sweethearts, they will always be supportive and encourage me. But they have been more forthcoming as well when my work was not up to the mark. I am grateful for the feedback and their positivity.
There were rumours that Sonali, your wife would also be directing a few episodes?
No, Sonali doesn’t want to. I don’t think she can even direct. It’s all nonsense.
Diverting a little bit from Aarambh, rumour has it that you were impressed with Half Girlfriend and now you are producing Mohit Suri’s new movie?
(Laughs) Talks are on and we are working on it. Once it is finalised it will put out an official statement.
With the advent of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai coming back after so many years, whispers are that one of you very popular series Remix will also be making a comeback?
I want to. I would want to do it the same way Sarabhai has done it, so that I can express more freely. Remix was a very edgy program and trend setting so I have a couple of ideas and I am waiting for Karan (Wahi) to get free and do one meeting with me and we will crack the concept
What about the rest of the Remix cast?
I think all are very excited and are waiting to do it. Some of the supporting cast have also become really big name so I think that we should do a reunion and discuss it in an open forum. I have some ideas.