Ever since filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari announced his mega-budget project Ramayana, it has generated buzz for its stellar cast and stunning VFX.

HT City has learnt that actor Amit Sial has joined the cast as Sugriv, the monkey king who aided Lord Rama in rescuing Sita from the demon king Ravana.

A source close to the development tells us, “Amit has shot a few portions of the film, and he will be seen playing a Hindu epic mythological character, Sugriv. The actor and the director will be working on his appearance to have authenticity to his narrative.”

The source adds, “Amit is nearly at the completion of his part in the first edition of the film.” The 50-year-old actor was unavailable when we reached out to him for a confirmation.

Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravan, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The cast also includes actors Ravi Dubey, Lara Dutta, Vikrant Massey, and Arun Govil.

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.”

Following its world première at the Toronto International Film Festival 2023, Wendy Bednarz’s directorial debut film, Yellow Bus, is set for its Asia première on November 2 at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023. The Tannishtha Chatterjee and Amit Sial-starrer explores the themes of loss, betrayal, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit after emotionally processing a life-changing loss.

Set against the backdrop of the Middle East, Yellow Bus follows the story of a hopeful migrant mother, Ananda (played by Chatterjee), who is shattered by a tragic life-turning incident. In search of the truth behind her daughter’s death, Ananda grapples with pain and the emotional turmoil faced by migrants who move to foreign lands with aspirations of a better life.

Speaking of the Asia première, Bednarz said, “The story is a heartfelt exploration of the human experience and a mother’s worst nightmare as she fights for justice in a foreign land and learns to forgive those whom she holds accountable, including herself. I am grateful to producers Nadia Eliewat and Guneet Monga Kapoor for empowering Yellow Bus with a platform and Tannishtha, whose riveting performance captures a mother’s pain with grace and sensitivity.”

Admitting that it was hard to step into the shoes of Ananda, Chatterjee said, “Giving voice to this woman’s struggle of being unheard, especially in an environment that doesn’t favour her, was an emotional journey. Women are often left to struggle with unprecedented situations. I am glad that I could be part of this film that showcases a plethora of emotions in such a nuanced way.”

Heaping praise on the director’s vision, Sial added, “It was a privilege working with my wonderful writer-director, Wendy, who so beautifully crafted the emotions in us, day by day.”

The film is a collaborative effort between Indian, Jordanian, Emirati, and American production houses, including Screen Project, Metatron Productions, OSN, Creative Venture, Sikhya Entertainment, and Ta Films.

Amit adds, “As I kept growing with age and experience, one tends to realize that you are what your roots are and it was my roots itself that gave me my uniqueness, gave me strength, power and when I started to use that, is when I actually experienced success and satisfaction as an actor. And the rest is history, as they say.”

With the popularity of web shows increasing we ask Amit of he feels the OTT has overshadowed films and he says, “No, I don’t think OTT has overpowered anything. It is a new medium and people are always attracted to new mediums. When the TV boom happened in India, there were shows like Hum Log and Buniyaad which became hugely popular for their basic premise of being very real to life. People could identify with the characters. Aapko lagta tha aisa toh mere ghar mein bhi hota hai, mere mohalle mein bhi hua, aisa meri maasi ke saath hua, aisa meri bua ke sath hua, there was an immediate connection. People at that time thought TV has become a threat to films. Then because the glossy evolution of television, it has now become unreal and fantastical and it feels like you are watching a Bollywood film. So it is like a circle of life and will always move like fashion which keeps changing every decade. The fashion I am seeing right now is exactly like what used to be in the 90s. So Bollywood has its own place and will remain there. OTT has its own set of viewers and one medium can’t go ahead of the other. They will all co-exist, one can say.” 

- With inputs by Amina Ashraf

On September 28, Randeep Hooda kicked off his maiden directorial venture, SwatantryaVeer Savarkar, in a town near Nashik. While the actor-director has taken the responsibility of stepping into the shoes of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, he will need dependable co-actors to bring to screen an authentic retelling of the national hero’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle.

His search has ended with Ankita Lokhande and Amit Sial. Sources say that Lokhande has been brought on board to play Savarkar’s wife Yamunabai. She was a member of the Atmanishtha Yuvati Samaj, a body that aimed to make women politically aware.

The project marks producer Sandeep Ssingh’s first collaboration with long-time friend Lokhande. “Ankita and I have laughed, cried and travelled together. I want to cast her in all my films, and I would be happy if she [is so successful] that she doesn’t have dates for my project. She is a bundle of talent,” he says. The actors have joined Hooda in the ongoing first schedule. Even as he refuses to divulge details about her role, Ssingh says, “Ankita performs so well that people are left teary-eyed.”

Sial will apparently bring alive the character of Ganesh Savarkar aka Babarao, the eldest of the Savarkar brothers. He had helped set up the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Ssingh heaps praise on Sial, saying, “His knowledge and passion for the art is commendable.”

Producer Anand Pandit adds that the actors “bring intensity” to the biopic.

It’s not uncommon to see actors play similar characters across projects, but only a few manage to steer clear of getting stereotyped. Amit Sial, who plays a politician in Maharani and Jamtara — the second edition of which aired recently — says that both characters were starkly different from each other.

“I am not playing two separate politicians who behave like one. I am playing two separate people who happen to be politicians.”

Sial took up Maharani much after shooting for Jamtara. “It was an advantage that I did Jamtara before. My characters in [the shows] were so well-etched out. After doing Maharani, I knew what I should not do as Brajesh Bhaan in Jamtara 2. Once you have that objectivity, and it is hammered inside your mind, you will know what to do,” explains Sial, who accepts that while he is aware of how to keep his characters distinct, it doesn’t stop the industry from typecasting him.

“They do slot me. I have had hundreds of offers to play a politician or an antagonist similar to what I have played before,” he says, adding that it is the “actor’s responsibility to rightly turn them down and explore diverse roles.”

Following a successful season, with another is often stressful, but Sial believes that he is “never one to take the pressure”. “I believe the pressure is more on the writers and Netflix. As an actor, I don’t get stressed about anything.”

The rise of OTT platforms is a win-win situation for both viewers and actors. While the former got more options to choose from, it also translated to bigger and better opportunities for the latter. No wonder, even the actors, who earlier went unnoticed in theatrical films, are now gaining fame for their performances in web projects.

Actor Amit Sial, who was part of films such as Phas Gaye Re Obama and Love Sex aur Dhokha (both 2010), came into the limelight after his web projects Inside Edge, Mirzapur and Maharani, among others. “Main toh shukraguzaar hoon OTT ka,” shares Sial, adding, “This medium has been life saviour for many actors like me. It does get frustrating when you don’t get the work you have set out to do, and the wait for getting a film project is so long… So yes, OTT helped me be discovered in a new way for sure.”

Another actor, whose career took off like never before after venturing into the digital space, is Sharib Hashmi. He worked in films Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) and Filmistaan (2014) but it’s web projects such as The Family Man, Darbaan and Asur, which helped him revive his career. “After Filmistaan, people, noticed me for the first time. I thought that I had arrived but destiny had other plans. I did sign a few films but they didn’t work out… And as the time passed people started forgetting me. But then because of the OTT platforms people are recognising me again,” shares Hashmi.

Actor Namit Das, who has worked in OTT projects Aarya, Abhay and A Suitable Boy, admits that the web space has helped many actors. “It is a huge avenue that has opened. Here everyone gets a chance to show their potential and explore themselves,” he explains.

OTT platforms have also proved to be boon for those who were struggling for years to showcase their craft. Grahan actor Anshumaan Pushkar admits waiting for six years to get the break. “When you look at films, who’ll give me a break? No one will. And no one did for so long. They want actors to be a certain way and kehte hai ki hum aap pe paisa nahi laga sakte. But thank God for OTT. Mere jeevan ka vardaan hai OTT. Mera career iske wajah se hai,” says Pushkar.

Four More Shots Please! actor Sayani Gupta too, lauds the web space for giving much needed impetus to acting careers of artistes. “We were craving to let out our creativity for so long and all of a sudden the wait is over, all thanks to this medium. As actors, you’re now able to showcase yourself and also not compromise on creativity,” she shares.

Variety is the spice on the OTT platforms and there is no dearth of content from all possible genres. However, lately the digital space is increasingly exploring plots and stories around the political spectrum, some of which seem inspired by real-life political figures and incidents too.

Most recently, shows such as Maharani, which loosely resembles the real-life political drama of Bihar in 1990s, is garnering much praise from the audience and critics alike. Actor Huma S Qureshi, who plays the titular role in the series, tells us, “Maharani is a political show for sure, but also a very hopeful show. It’s not something that leaves you without hope... It’s almost like a fantasy that everybody harbours that if, ‘I’d be the chief minister or Prime Minister, I’d do this and that’. It’s a common man’s dream.”

Qureshi cites an example of Anil Kapoor-starrer Nayak (2001). “It plays into that fantasy. But when done in a realistic political setting, most people connect with that,” she adds.

Even Ramya Krishnan-starrer Queen, which chronicles the life of Shakti Seshadri — a character that bears an uncanny resemblance to late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa — has been loved by audiences.

There are multiple reasons that make political dramas an audience favourite, feels Gautam Talwar, chief content officer of the OTT platform that screens Queen. “Firstly, these larger than life personalities who’re tasked with running the government, tend to garner heightened attention and curiosity from viewers. Secondly, their personal lives — be it what motivated them to join politics, their childhood, their lives as young adults, among others, make for compelling storytelling, and the common man loves to know the back story about the leaders,” he explains.

Among other web shows based on political themes is the Telugu web series Chadarangam, which revolves around the life of Sr NTR, Modi - Journey Of A Common Man based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life, and City Of Dreams, that explores themes of crime, politics and family conflicts. There’s also a biopic series planned on the life of actor-turned-politician, Sumalatha.

Talwar says that as a storyteller, what interests him the most about political genre is the fact that they’re able to recreate certain parts of history with a nuanced POV, that makes for an interesting watch. “What really appeals is the journey of these characters from very humble, modest beginnings, to them achieving the epitome of power in their respective field,” he adds.

Amit Sial, who stars in Maharani, opines that the shows based on, or inspired by, political figures give the audience a deep sense of satisfaction, as well as a hope. Talking about the show, he shares, “It’s a well etched out script, so I mostly relied on what was written. Subhash Kapoor (creator of the show) is an ex political journalist, so he has deep knowledge and good understanding of the subject. I think the audiences really like complex, political stories, and politics is the in thing right now.”

Actor Rajeev Siddhartha, who stars in Aashram, that has a plotline exposing godmen-politican nexus, feels that such stories can be explored in a bigger way on OTT platforms. “Web space allows to add more complexities, more layers and more information about the incident and characters. I feel that even the audiences like that. In the coming time, we’ll see more of these,” he concludes.