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.

Naveen Kasturia, who came into the spotlight seven years ago with Pitchers, has grown both in talent and experience. The past year was significant for the actor as he featured in Breathe: Into the Shadows season 2, and the much-awaited Pitchers 2. In a candid chat with mid-day, he talks about seven-year wait for the second instalment, and the audience’s reaction.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

I don’t know how to answer that. I am happy that it finally happened, and that they didn’t try to copy what they did in season one. This time, the team, crew and cast were all different, as was the approach.

When Pitchers first came [in 2015], it started my career. When Aspirants came on YouTube [in 2021], the pulse lasted quite long. Neither was promoted. When Pitchers 2 started, there was a buzz [among the audience]. I have been getting messages from the day it went on air on ZEE5, but it is difficult for me to gauge the show’s success. The reviews have ranged from average to very good. Some people found it better than the first season, but some have not liked it as much. People whom I admire have said good things about it. My peers praised my acting, and said the season was mature. I am glad that this season didn’t have gags. I like real drama more than jokes or gags. But how do you judge success [on OTT]? Personally, I have liked it more than the first season.

I am not sure of the product [laughs]. I feel that is the reason the writing took time. When we were discussing this idea five years ago, the [storyline] was to revolve around education, which later became obsolete. Back then, the team was different with Biswapati [Sarkar] writing the storyline. The new team has taken a different approach. At one point, one team was writing with a product in mind, while another team was writing a drama without it. Ultimately, the second [approach] caught their attention.

This is not a question for me. When I learnt that Jitu [Jitendra Kumar] was not part of this season, I was shocked, like everyone one else. I couldn’t imagine Pitchers without him. The old team was not there — from the director, to writer to crew. The assistant directors of Pitchers 1 have all become directors — Raghav Subbu directed Kota Factory, and Prem Mistry, who served as an art director, is now a director.

In the first season, my character was simple. His ethical core was correct. But this time around, I didn’t understand what he was doing. He doesn’t have anything with him, but agrees to commit Rs. 50 crore. Personally, I would never do that. We didn’t have rehearsals or extensive readings [to understand these emotions]. In fact, I came to know what my character was doing at the end of the fifth episode, only on the set. But I believe it is the director’s medium. The makers have done their research.

They have left so many cliffhangers, that it should have a third season. But finally, that is a call the makers will take.

At a time when Bangalore had emerged as India’s Silicon Valley that had been churning out promising start-ups in the world of tech, the tale of four entrepreneurs taking the plunge into business had aptly caught people’s attention. With TVF (The Viral Fever) bringing back Pitchers for a second season, seven years after its first airing, mid-day has learnt that a new member hops aboard the Zee5 offering.

“Pitchers is an iconic show which should not have taken this long to return. But now that it is back and I am part of it, I could not have been more thrilled,” gushes Sikandar Kher, adding, “The show inspired many entrepreneurs, and I have immense respect for what the team has managed to achieve.”

This edition will also see Ridhi Dogra play a pivotal role.