(From left) Aditi Rao Hydari; Aparshakti Khurana and Prosenjit

Who better than the astute Vikramaditya Motwane to take us to the Bollywood of yore? With his ambitious web series, Stardust, the filmmaker has harked back to the ’40s, tracing the evolution, rivalries and changing work culture of the Hindi film industry over the subsequent decades. Bengali superstar Prosenjit, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aparshakti Khurana and Wamiqa Gabbi lead the proceedings. While it is known that the Amazon Prime Video web series is inspired by true events, it is now heard that the first season borrows a few elements from the lives of Devika Rani, her producer-husband Himanshu Rai and actor Ashok Kumar.

A trade source reveals that the upcoming first season will focus on the 1940s, when Hindi cinema was flourishing under the studio system. “The show, though rooted in real-life events, offers a fictional take on them. Prosenjit and Aditi’s parts are said to be modelled on Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani, while Aparshakti’s role is inspired by Ashok Kumar. Prosenjit’s character is depicted as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema. The story delves into how the Hindi film industry’s first studio was founded in the 1930s by a star couple, who end up making a superstar out of a Kolkata boy,” says the source.

Rai and Rani had founded Bombay Talkies in 1934. The studio went on to produce many films, even serving as the launchpad of several stars including Dilip Kumar, Leela Chitnis and Madhubala.   

While Motwane had taken his labour of love on floors last March, the shoot had to be halted due to the second wave of the pandemic. The team, which had resumed work late last year, finally called it a wrap on the project in February. The source adds, “The nine episodes were shot in a start-to-finish schedule in Mumbai over the past three months. The subsequent seasons will delve into the lives and times of the stars of the following decades.”  

When mid-day reached out to Prosenjit, he said, “I am doing a special project with Vikramaditya Motwane. It was wonderful working with Aditi and Aparshakti. That’s all I can say.”

Equally reluctant to talk about the project, Hydari said, “Motwane is a director I wanted to work with, for long.”

Rani, Rai and Kumar

Aparshakti Khurana reflects the sentiment of many actors when he expresses pride to have a Vikramaditya Motwane series on his résumé. After being part of web films, he is set to feature in the web series, Stardust that offers a fictional take on the Indian film industry by studying it through the lens of two warring superstars.

Khurana plays a Bengali character in the Prosenjit and Aditi Rao Hydari-led drama that spans the 1940s to the 1980s. “We have shot 80 per cent of the show. The last leg will [commence] in Sri Lanka in January.”

The year 2021 was satisfying for the actor who was part of Hum Do Hamare Do and Helmet. On the personal front, he experienced the joy of fatherhood. He considers himself fortunate to open the coming year with Motwane’s passion project. “Many actors wouldn’t get a chance to attempt a period drama, but I got one so early on in my career. Vikramaditya makes realistic cinema, and can bring out the best in you.”

Vikramaditya Motwane had kicked off his ambitious show Stardust in March, but had to soon call time on it due to the second wave of the pandemic. Five months on, the filmmaker has harked back to Bombay of the ’40s as he resumed work on the Amazon Prime Video series that will focus on Bollywood of yore. The Prosenjit, Aditi Rao Hydari and Wamiqa Gabbi starrer rolled on Monday at an elaborate set erected in Dadar.

It is heard that the groundwork began in the second week of August as soon as the entire crew was vaccinated. “The show, inspired by true events, is set in ’40s Bollywood and will trace its evolution, changing work culture and the rivalries in the industry, all the way to the ’80s. The director is currently shooting with the leading ladies on the set that has been designed according to the architectural style of the ’40s,” reveals a source. 

After the 15-day schedule, the team is expected to move to Film City in Goregaon for the next stint that will see Bengali superstar Prosenjit join the cast.