Seven years ago, Pitchers, the web series, saw the light of day and yet its second season, that released in December 2022, generated a lot of buzz.

Actor Naveen Kasturia, who plays one of the lead characters in the series, feels “it was incredible”. “I had almost given up on it. For a long time, I hoped that there would be another season. But since it didn’t really happen, I ended up accepting that it won’t ever happen. Season two began so abruptly that it seemed a little unreal. I wondered if it was actually happening,” says the actor.

He has been a part of Aspirants as well as Pitchers, so when asked about being typecast, he tells us, “I’ve already been [typecast] and it’s organic; I can’t help it. But that’s the battle you have to fight, and look for opportunities that you have not done yet. So, I keep trying and looking for those opportunities.”

Pitchers’ first season followed the journey of four friends: Naveen, Yogi, Mandal and Jeetu, who quit their jobs and started a firm named Pragati. The second season delves into the details of the startup sector, where interpersonal ties gradually but steadily turn into economic transactions.

Kasturia shares, “The actual problems begin in the second season as the characters have to keep up the pace of the business and keep it running, despite the risks and difficulties encountered.”

Kasturia admits he was “shocked to find that Jitu (Jitendra Kumar; actor) was not a part of season 2”. “Without him, Pitchers is unimaginable to me. From the director to the writer and the crew — most of the previous gang was missing.”

Despite season one’s success, Kasturia felt no pressure to recreate what had worked before. “I prefer not to replicate something that has already been done. There is no set formula, so what worked previously might not work now,” he says.