The latest offering from Applause Entertainment is the premium digital drama series Rasbhari, headlined by the powerhouse of talent, Swara Bhasker. This coming-of-age love story is set in the Hindi heartland and traces the story of a standard 11 student and his growing infatuation for his English teacher.

Fresh off her sizzling success of Veere Di Wedding, Swara will essay the role of the enigmatic English teacher, Shanoo madam, while Ayushmaan Saxena will play the besotted student, Nand.

Sameer Nair, CEO of Applause Entertainment, said, “I cannot praise Shantanu’s sparkling writing enough — with his delectable turn of phrase, delightful local dialect and wicked sense of humour, every character in this ‘coming-of-age’ love story comes alive. Headlining a terrific cast of actors, Swara plays the stern English teacher who is the object of attraction for not only our young hero, but for the entire male population of Meerut. Director Nikhil Bhat and producer Tanveer Bookwala have truly created a gem.”

Swara Bhasker said, “I am always looking for roles that challenge me and satisfy my pursuit for creativity. Rasbhari has been an amazing experience. With Shanoo I was able to enjoy a role rarely seen on screen and I truly hope that her story is able to shine a light on today’s society.”

Tanveer Bookwala, Founder – Creative Director of Ding Entertainment, added, “We’re glad to associate with Sameer Nair for this exciting project. Apart from featuring Swara in a never-seen-before avatar, this newfangled narrative will introduce audiences to characters you’d love to meet, for real.”

Rasbhari is set to start streaming soon.

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Swara Bhasker follows glamorous Veere Di Wedding act with that of a small-town teacher in web show, Rasbhari
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 7, 2018)

In stark contrast to the glamorous, rich, spoilt brat she plays in Veere Di Wedding, Swara Bhasker's next sees her slip into the role of a school teacher from a small town of Uttar Pradesh. Applause Entertainment's Rasbhari, a coming-of-age love story, marks her second venture in the digital space after 2016's acclaimed It's Not That Simple.

Bhasker's Shanoo, an English teacher at a Meerut school has caught the attention of a class 11 student, Nand. "It's a role that is rarely explored on screen. I hope it shines a light on today's society," says Swara Bhasker, who stars alongside Ayushmaan Saxena.

The off-beat character that she is set to play was certainly instrumental in getting her nod for a web show. "I am always looking out for roles that challenge me and satisfy my pursuit for creativity. Such experimental initiatives are aiming to bring never-seen-before content to the Indian audience. I'm extremely happy to be part of it."

The Nikhil Bhat-directed 10-episode series promises to capture the local culture and aesthetic of the town. "When the character of Shanoo was narrated to me, I knew Swara would be an ideal fit for it. Today's discerning Indian audiences demand content that is gripping and entertaining; we need to meet their expectations," Bhat says. While penning the script, Shantanu Shrivastava was certain that the plot should "unfold like an onion". He says, "We we're combining two genres in the series. We wanted the story to evolve as the audiences learn more about Shanoo's character. At the core, we wanted it to be helmed by a strong narrative."