In The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, Sony LIV’s gripping investigative drama, Amit Sial plays SIT chief D R Kaarthikeyan, the man tasked with leading the mammoth investigation. The role brought back vivid memories for Sial, who was 16 and in school when the tragedy occurred. “My earliest memory is quite vivid. I also had a few faint memories of Indira Gandhi’s assassination seven years before this. There was a lot of discussion, while information flow wasn’t as fast as it is today. We received a lot of filtered information about what happened and who was responsible. There was shock and bewilderment all around me and in the country at that time.”

Though the series is based on Anirudhya Mitra’s book 90 Days: The True Story of the Hunt of Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassins, Sial chose to focus more on the man — who he never met — his personality, and demeanour than the investigation.

“I did not have much time to go into the investigation per se, which wasn’t even required at the time because [the series] is based on a book, and the script was detailed enough. So I thought it was better to focus on D R Kaarthikeyan, who is alive, and do justice to his personality.” He watched interviews, studied his body language and tone, and noted, “his physicality and attitude.”

He adds, “I was the last to come onboard. I barely had three weeks to prep. I think they got a little overconfident in what I was doing.”

Portraying Kaarthikeyan also meant speaking Tamil, something the actor felt was “tough and nerve-wracking” in the short time. “I am not fluent in Tamil at all and I had no time to learn a new and rich language. I was damn scared because I am playing a real-life person. It is a huge responsibility so I cannot do my own thing.”

He credits Raja, the AD (additional director) on set, and co-star Sahil Vaid for helping him learn and polish the lines.

On working with director Nagesh Kukunoor, Sial says, “He is one of my favourite directors. I call him sajjan purush. He is a sweet, patient, and well-read intelligent guy which shows in his work... I think my face matched DR Kaarthikeyan more than anything else. He probably thought I’d figure out the rest.”