Showing posts with label Abhishek Sengupta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abhishek Sengupta. Show all posts
Our DoP ensured that actors didn’t touch anything while filming a scene-Shweta Tripathi
7:52 AM
Filming Escaype Live in Benares till mid-April, Shweta on how makers called off stint in light of rising cases
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 13, 2021)
While she understands the need for the junta curfew in the state in this moment of crisis, Shweta Tripathi Sharma says the artiste in her is itching to go back to the set. She was shooting for the technological thriller, Escaype Live, in Varanasi till mid-April before the rising cases in Uttar Pradesh made the unit do a rethink.
“It was 40 degrees when we were shooting there. As actors, it has been physically and emotionally draining because we can’t wear masks [in front of the camera]. We shot for barely two days, after which Siddharth Kumar Tewary [creator-director] decided to postpone the shoot because human lives matter more. The fear of COVID was constantly playing on our minds,” says the actor, who shares screen space with South star Siddharth in the 10-part web series that examines the dark side of social media.
Directors Tewary and Abhishek Sengupta had kicked off the shoot last December in Umbergaon. After the first leg progressed smoothly, a 12-day Benares schedule was drawn up. Tripathi reveals that the first four days were dedicated to workshops, post which they began filming while adhering to stringent safety norms. “On set, we maintained social distancing, and there was constant sanitisation. The DoP [Vishal Sinha] ensured that actors didn’t touch anything while filming a scene. For a cafe sequence, I had to pick up a glass from the table. But he asked me to do away with that gesture, thus minimising the risk.”
When I heard Escaype Live's story, I knew it was brilliant. It's like Black Mirror-Shweta Tripathi
8:12 AM
After Mirzapur 2, Shweta signs Escaype Live that explores dark side of social media
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 5, 2020)
As much as she would like to bask in the success of the second season of Mirzapur, Shweta Tripathi Sharma's date diary doesn't give her the opportunity. The actor has to dive into the make-believe world of Escaype Live that rolls in Umbergaon later this month. Evidently unwilling to let go of her character in the popular crime drama, she begins the chat saying, "I am excited to see where Golu [Gupta] goes from here. Her life can never be normal after what happened in the last two seasons."
For now though, Tripathi has to trade the lanes of Mirzapur for the dark world of social media. She teams up with South actor Siddharth for the 10-part technological thriller, which follows five youngsters as they attain overnight stardom on a live-streaming app. "When I heard this story, I knew it was brilliant. It's like Black Mirror; it [studies] how social media affects people psychologically and emotionally. We are exploring the good, bad and ugly side of social media. The Netflix film, The Social Dilemma, points out how we have become a commodity in this technology-driven world. We are influencers, but are also being influenced. If we are not cautious, we will lose sight of reality." The series marks her reunion with director Abhishek Sengupta after the second season of Laakhon Mein Ek.
Tripathi adds that through one of its tracks, the show wonderfully explores an unconventional romance. "We will delve into the subject of falling in love with a transgender man. The writing is so sensitive that it will make people look beyond class, caste and gender, and appreciate the human qualities in them. For me, messaging is important in a story."
Our ambition was much bigger than our budget-Biswa Kalyan Rath
8:30 AM
Biswa, who is nominated for Best Creator for Laakhon Mein Ek S02 in the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web awards, traces how he developed the medical drama
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; March 1, 2020)
Making people laugh about the mundaneness of life is his forte, but Biswa Kalyan Rath has a knack for telling heartfelt stories in the garb of humour. Not surprising then that his recent offering, Laakhon Mein Ek S02, has been nominated in the Best New Season category and has fetched him a Best Creator nod at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards.
After the success of Laakhon Mein Ek, which revolved around an engineering student, Rath decided to examine the medical profession for the second outing. "We wanted to continue our human versus system narrative. The medical world was a natural choice after the engineering field since these are the two options most middle-class Indian kids are given," he reasons.
While there have been several shows and films on the malpractices in the medical industry, his team relied on on-ground research and personal experiences. "Abhishek [Sengupta], our director, had a lot of childhood stories since his father was a doctor. Hussain [Haidry, writer] had also worked in a hospital as a CFO. Meanwhile, my friend Sneha Vakharia gave us basic insight into how this system works. We also spoke to doctors, medical students and medical journalists."
Developing a show from scratch, with limited resources, is no mean feat. "Our ambition was much bigger than our budget. Every person in the crew burnt the midnight oil to make this show possible," says Rath, glad that Shweta Tripathi Sharma—their first choice for the lead role—gave her nod to the series.
In 2019, Rath also released his comedy special Sushi that has been nominated for Best Comedy (Non-fiction) at the awards gala. Ask him how he came up with the name and the funny man responds, "I visited Japan; that had a big influence on it." The material that didn't make the cut in this comedy special will be included in his next outing. "I wanted to make it relatable, and not too cerebral. So, I removed [sets] that didn't fit."
More About Laakhon Mein Ek
- The team had a doctor on set every time they shot a scene with any medical reference
- Shweta Tripathi claims that the makers referred to her as the 'Masaan wali ladki' before approaching her for the role
- Cast Your Vote For The Hitlist Web Awards
- Biswa Kalyan Rath has been nominated in the Best Creator category for Laakhon Mein Ek S02
The other nominees are:
- Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti (Made In Heaven)
- Vikramaditya Motwane (Sacred Games S02)
- Raj-DK (The Family Man)
Richie Mehta (Delhi Crime)
- Rath also enjoys a nomination in the Best Comedy (Non-fiction) category for Sushi (Stand-up Special; Amazon Prime)
The other nominees are:
- Going Downhill (Stand-up special: Neville Shah; Amazon Prime)
- One Mic Stand (Sapan Verma; Amazon Prime)
- Jestination Unknown (Vir Das; Amazon Prime)
- Comicstaan 2 (OML Entertainment; Amazon Prime)
There are 14 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.hitlistwebawards.com to cast your vote.
You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c/d as on the website) to 57575.
Voting lines close on March 8
Biswa Kalyan Rath wrote script for woh Masaan wali ladki-Shweta Tripathi
8:11 AM
Contender for Best Actor (Female) gong in the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards, Shweta Tripathi Sharma quips that Laakhon Mein Ek creator barely knew her name when he approached her for show
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 26, 2020)
Thrilled as she is to have struck gold with web offerings, Shweta Tripathi Sharma has little patience for those who bracket her as a digital star. "There are a lot of things I like about the web — it's not [restricted] to one Friday; its reach is wide. The problem is that the industry brackets people as digital star or mainstream star. Thankfully, this is [being] shattered now. A brilliant actor is just a brilliant actor," says Tripathi, who has Mirzapur and Laakhon Mein Ek on her résumé. Her sincere performance in the second season of Laakhon Mein Ek has earned her a nomination for Best Actor (Female) at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards. In a country where the medical profession is considered among the most lucrative, Biswa Kalyan Rath's show delves deep into the issues that young doctors face. "There has been a lack of correct representation of doctors on screen, which this show hoped to rectify."
As part of her prep, Tripathi met several doctors, both newbies and experienced. "I asked them about the first time they met a patient, and the difference in their attitude after they had met over 500 of them. In a scene, my character is shown handing over the body of a boy to his family. While the actor in me wanted to be dramatic, as a doctor, I had to be composed."
The show marks her first collaboration with Rath. "Biswa and Abhishek [Sengupta, director] had written [the script] for 'woh Masaan wali ladki'. I doubt they knew my name," she laughs. Ask her if Rath is all business on set — a far cry from the stand-up comic that we all love — and she grins, "These oddballs had such funny demands. For a scene in which I had to make Maggi, Abhishek said that right when I stir the noodles, a tear should trickle down my cheek. I don't know how I managed that."
More About Laakhon Mein Ek
- On set, Tripathi was often asked to take a stroll in the sun so that she was tanned, in keeping with her de-glam character.
- Rath's experience as an IIT student was the inspiration for Laakhon Mein Ek S01.
Cast Your Vote For The Hitlist Web Awards
Shweta Tripathi Sharma has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female) category for Laakhon Mein Ek S02
The other nominees are:
- Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime; Netflix)
- Sobhita Dhulipala (Made In Heaven; Amazon Prime)
- Rasika Dugal (Out of Love; Hotstar)
- Geetanjali Kulkarni (Gullak; Sony LIV)
- Mithila Palkar (Little Things S03; Netflix)
- Dia Mirza (Kaafir; Zee5)
There are 14 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.hitlistwebawards.com to cast your vote.
You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c/d as on the website) to 57575.
Voting lines close on March 8.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)