Everyone had a funny line and comic timing down to the beat, but Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s character had to keep a straight face. So, while he was excited about joining Maamla Legal Hai Season 2, he was unsure how audiences would perceive his serious turn in Netflix’s madcap comedy. But since the second season dropped on April 2, the compliments haven’t stopped.

“I didn’t understand how people would take this character because everybody is doing comedy except me. But now, I [feel] people have liked my character a lot. They didn’t expect such a twist,” says the actor, who plays a newly-appointed judge in the Patparganj district court.

For Bhattacharya, the role may not have been big, but its layers made it tempting. “It was tough because I had to be precise as there is a certain dignity and sanctity attached to the position of a judge. [My character] also had to balance between how much to tell and not. The character was written in a way that you can’t tell whether he is positive or negative. I couldn’t project a lot in this performance because he shouldn’t be seen. If you see him, you  will find out that something is fishy.”

The actor’s calendar is packed this year. In July, he will be seen in Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh, and directed by Shiv Rawail. Bhattacharya, who plays a key role in the upcoming instalment of the YRF Spy Universe, has previously worked with Rawailon The Railway Men (2023).

While the actor refuses to divulge details about Alpha, he says, “It was a fantastic shooting for Alpha. Shiv is a young director. He is dedicated and passionate. He leaves no stone unturned to achieve what he wants. The film boasts of good actors and technicians,” he says, adding that he also enjoyed sharing screen space with Bhatt. “She is a good actor. It was during Poachers [2024] promotions that I met her for the first time.”

After ‘Maamla Legal Hai 2’, Dibyendu Bhattacharya will be seen in Prime Video’s ‘Raakh’, directed by Prosit Roy. The series also features Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre. “I love the subject and the director. Prosit is a talented man. I have a long association with him,” he says.

Two female spies fighting the baddies against Kashmir’s mountainous terrain—that’s how director Shiv Rawail had imagined one of the fight sequences in Alpha. In September, Alia Bhatt and Sharvari went to Pahalgam for the spy thriller’s third schedule. However, the team was unable to conduct the 10-day stint after the rains wreaked havoc in the region. Now, mid-day has learnt that the unit has headed back to the Valley.

During their last trip, Bhatt and Sharvari could barely film three days due to the rains that lashed the region.

A source reveals, “The director had cancelled the schedule due to the terrible weather. After that, Shiv and producer Aditya Chopra considered different possible cities where they could film the portions. However, they soon realised that the Valley’s picturesque locations were perfect for the sequences in question, and slotted the Kashmir leg again for mid-October.”

We’ve heard that Sharvari flew out yesterday, while Alia will join the unit today or tomorrow. Over the next few days, the duo will film an action sequence and a song.

The insider adds, “The action set-piece involves an elaborate chase. Besides Pahalgam, they will shoot in Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Srinagar.” With Alpha, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol also join the spyverse, which includes Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

Fight, rest, repeat. That is Alia Bhatt’s mantra as she shoots for Alpha, the newest offering that marks YRF spy universe’s first female-led espionage thriller. Shiv Rawail’s directorial venture went on floors in the first week of July with the leading lady canning an elaborate action sequence at YRF Studios in Andheri. Three weeks down, the unit has moved to Film City in Goregaon, where Bhatt—who plays a super spy—is apparently shooting an action set-piece with Bobby Deol, who portrays the antagonist.

In April, mid-day had reported that Rawail and producer Aditya Chopra were roping in multiple action choreographers so that each fight sequence looked distinct (Wanna kick ass, Alia? Apr 30). The current set-piece has been choreographed by Casey O’ Neill.

A source reveals, “In her 12-year career, Alia has attempted action only once before, in Heart Of Stone [2023]. With this particular sequence in Alpha, she is taking it several notches higher. It is a no-holds-barred set-piece full of blood, gore and brutality, as Alia and Bobby go at each other with weapons as well as hand-to-hand combat. She is dressed in black, with a gun strapped to her thigh, while Bobby sports cropped hair and salt-and-pepper beard. The makers wanted Casey to design the stunts as he is an expert in advanced stunt technology; he has choreographed some crucial action sequences for Jawan [2023], Top Gun: Maverick [2022] and Jack Reacher [2012].”

The scene is being canned in a heavily guarded set, designed by art directors Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty, at the location as Chopra doesn’t want any pictures or details to get leaked.

“This shoot will take over four days. Since it is one of the film’s most important scenes, Adi has ensured that the location is impregnable. They have about 100 guards manning it and covering all vantage points,” adds the source. 

Sharvari, who plays Bhatt’s sister as well as an undercover agent, will join the ongoing two-month schedule after this sequence is wrapped up. With Alpha, Anil Kapoor too joins the on-screen spy-verse—which includes Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan—as Bhatt and Sharvari’s mentor. 

Fans have picked their favourite on-screen spy from Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. But we’ve got our eyes on the latest entrant in the YRF spy universe—Alia Bhatt. mid-day has learnt that the actor, who will play an undercover agent in Shiv Rawail’s directorial venture, is set to kick off the yet-untitled film early next month. There will be no half measures for Bhatt, who will start by filming her action-packed entry scene.

Sources tell us that producer Aditya Chopra and the director have lined up a month-long schedule at the YRF Studios in Andheri. While the leading lady will can an action set-piece over the first few days, she will soon be joined by Sharvari, who plays her sister in the project.

“Shiv has slotted several fight sequences for the first leg. After her introduction scene, Alia will move on to another massive action set-piece that will see her and Sharvari join forces. Adi will ensure that the Mumbai shoot is conducted with a limited crew and is heavily guarded so that details aren’t leaked,” says a source.

The two actors’ spy mission will then take them to the UK. Anil Kapoor, who has been roped in to portray their mentor, will join the unit in this stint.   

The film marks Bhatt’s first attempt at action in Bollywood, although she recently dabbled in the genre with Heart of Stone (2023). Naturally, the actor is going in, armed with prep. She has been training with international action choreographers Se-yeong Oh and Craig Macrae over the past two months in the Andheri studio.

The source adds, “Se-yeong and Craig, who are among the seven stunt directors roped in, were flown down from Seoul and London respectively. Alia’s introduction scene will see her take on a group of baddies. She has picked up hand-to-hand combat moves and is now training with a team of 40 to perfect the fight.”

Bobby Deol, who plays the antagonist, has also begun prep.

We all love a slick action movie where the hero, in a high-stakes sequence, takes down an army of baddies. But what do we love more? Watching a heroine kick butt and demolish the enemy. It looks like Alia Bhatt will serve us just that in her spy thriller. So far, high-octane action has been a signature of YRF spy movies. We’ve heard that in keeping with the ethos, producer Aditya Chopra and director Shiv Rawail have envisioned seven action set-pieces for the yet-untitled movie that will see Bhatt and Sharvari as undercover agents with Bobby Deol playing the antagonist.

Sources tell us that Bhatt’s project, the sixth in the spy universe, is being mounted as a big-budget action spectacle. Apparently, Chopra believes that as the first female-led espionage film from his banner, it will generate much interest among the audiences, particularly women.

A source elaborates, “While Katrina Kaif’s Zoya and Deepika Padukone’s Rubai from the Tiger and Pathaan franchises respectively have been loved by audiences, this marks the first female-led project. So, Aditya is keen to make it a cool action entertainer that sees Alia and Sharvari’s characters as mean killing machines. The filmmaker likes to rope in different action directors so that each set-piece looks distinct. This time, he has brought a mix of experts, including Korean stunt coordinator Se-yeong Oh, Franz Spillhaus, and Indian action director Sunil Rodrigues. While one sequence will see Alia doing martial arts, another will have her in fierce combat with Bobby.”

In her 12-year career so far, this is the first time that Bhatt will be seen in an action avatar in Hindi movies, although she explored the genre in her Hollywood debut, Heart Of Stone (2023). Naturally, she will undergo a gruelling training programme before she rains down kicks and punches.

The source adds, “Shiv plans to take the film on floors after September. Alia and Sharvari will train hard before the shoot begins. Over subsequent offerings, Alia’s character will cross paths with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, Salman Khan’s Tiger, and Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir from the War franchise.”

Kay Kay Menon had doubts about fronting The Railway Men, and for good reason. The actor had starred in Bhopal Express (1999), which was based on the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the same subject that forms the backdrop of the Netflix series. What’s new here, he thought. That Yash Raj Films (YRF) was backing it made him all the more wary.

“The project’s casting director told me about The Railway Men. Since it is [produced by] YRF, one thinks the project might get into a mainstream zone. Plus, I had done Bhopal Express earlier. So, I was doubtful about [exploring the subject again],” recounts the actor.

This is where the power of the script, penned by director Shiv Rawail and writer Aayush Gupta, kicked in. “When I read the script, I was floored. I wanted to meet the person who was making it. When I met Shiv, I thought, ‘He’s a kid!’ But when he started speaking, I understood his approach to filmmaking, and when I saw the set, I was happy that I didn’t go by my instinct,” laughs Menon.

YRF Entertainment’s maiden web series—also starring R Madhavan, Divyenndu and Babil Khan—features Menon as station master Iftekaar, who risks his life to save people on the night of the gas leak. Since The Railway Men dropped online over the weekend, its lead actors have been earning acclaim for their compelling performances.

It’s not easy to hold one’s own in an ensemble drama. Yet, each actor shines bright in the limited series. Sure, it has much to do with individual talent. But Menon also attributes it to something bigger—their collaborative nature. He believes that any actor, who desires to create legacy work, can’t afford to harbour insecurity and must approach every project as teamwork.

“Sanskaar ki baat hai. I’ve never felt that I have to step into someone else’s space. The script and the project are greater than me. If that is accepted by the audience, all of us benefit. If that doesn’t happen, nothing else [works]. All of us have different parts to play [in the smooth functioning] of an engine, and if one starts to interfere with the other part, the engine will crash. So, we have to show professional maturity. This approach makes films last for posterity. Otherwise, it’s just a three-day business.”

One doesn’t associate Yash Raj Films with hard-hitting and realistic stories. For the same reason, R Madhavan was initially skeptical about being a part of The Railway Men, which revolves around a group of railway personnel who saved lives on the fateful night of the Bhopal gas tragedy.

“I had skepticism about how it would be treated. Will it be a cosmetic look at the Bhopal gas tragedy? Because Yash Raj is known for classically doing that,” begins the actor, who plays Central Railways’ general manager Rati Panday in the four-part Netflix series.

His doubts were cleared when he read the script penned by director-writer Shiv Rawail and co-writer Aayush Gupta. “When I saw the in-depth research and how Shiv knew everything like the back of his hand, it gave me immense confidence. But I was still unsure about how I’d do it because my character gives a speech, which was initially eight-to-nine pages long,” he exclaims.

In Hindi cinema that leans towards theatrics and dramatic dialogues, speeches run the risk of sounding hollow, or worse, patronizing. Madhavan knew that for the scene to be effective, his words had to sound more personal—a suggestion that he took to Rawail and producer Aditya Chopra.

“I said that in today’s world, if I have to make a speech about men [embracing] death to do something glorious, [the audiences may feel a] disconnect because they have seen so many of those speeches. It has to be a personal journey. I told them I wanted to make it shorter, real and I didn’t want [my character] to stand on a pedestal, I wanted him to be with the guys. I was shocked at the promptness with which they reacted. Adi sir took out those pages, shortened [the speech] and Shiv sharpened it. What came out was so spectacular.” His rousing speech is now one of the most crucial scenes of the Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu and Babil Khan-starrer.

Working on The Railway Men was particularly enriching for Madhavan because it’s one of those rare subjects that commanded his attention. Having worked for more than 25 years across languages, he believes his true success lies in being able to choose projects that align with his artistic beliefs.

“People underestimate the power of money and success. I don’t use acting to make money, I use money to help me act [in projects that resonate with me]. I don’t have to take up all the projects that come to me. That money helps me sustain when I’m not getting the kind of subjects I want to take up.”

It’s an enormous responsibility to retell the story of the fateful night of the Bhopal gas tragedy. The responsibility is only doubled when the project marks the foray of Yash Raj Films (YRF) into digital entertainment. But as The Railway Men drops online today, director Shiv Rawail says he didn’t feel apprehensive as he had the best guide in producer Aditya Chopra.

Rawail says Chopra took two years, nurturing and perfecting every beat of the script before the R Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu and Babil Khan-starrer went on floors. “The one thing I know about my mentor, Aditya Chopra, is that he would never make anything that is not compelling enough for the audiences to watch. I think this is why YRF has managed to influence pop culture and shape the content choices of people for so many generations,” states the director.

Set against the backdrop of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Netflix mini-series is inspired by the true stories of courage shown by a group of railway workers to save lives in the face of the world’s worst industrial disaster. Chopra first heard of the story during the shoot of Befikre (2016), on which Rawail served as the first assistant director.

“Adi hand-picked The Railway Men to be the first series that YRF makes for [the web]. We worked on the script and pre-production for over two years before Adi decided to even greenlight the series. He was that particular. His reason was simple—he wanted the values of YRF to reflect in the projects of YRF Entertainment, its OTT arm. He wanted to recreate Bhopal of 1984, scaling up the feel and aesthetic of the times. Adi was willing to wait and better it constantly till he was confident that we were putting our best foot forward.”

With The Railway Men, the team wants to celebrate the unsung heroes and the indomitable spirit of humanity. The messaging was sacrosanct to both Rawail and Chopra. The first-time director shares, “The series brings to life one of the most important subjects that every Indian is aware of. So, we had to be sensitive. Our series had to showcase how humanity exists within us, even when we are individually at risk.”

After Company (2002), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), Chak De India (2007), and Rocket Singh (2009), writer-director Jaideep Sahni has turned exclusive creator for Yash Raj Films’ OTT venture. The filmmaker, who often collaborated creatively with Aditya Chopra, will now be an exclusive creator for YRF Entertainment — YRF’s digital venture.

A trade source tells mid-day, “Aditya Chopra wants to create shows for global audiences. He roped in Jaideep Sahni, who has always wowed everyone with his scripts, [with the hope] to create genre-defining content.”

The production house recently announced their maiden OTT project The Railway Men — a story about the untold heroes of the Bhopal gas tragedy that rocked the nation in 1984. The R Madhavan-starrer is being helmed by Shiv Rawail, while Sahni is penning the script for the production house’s second outing. 

“Jaideep will create a genre of his own in the Hindi content space with his first project for YRF Entertainment that is set to roll early next year. Aditya and the team at YRF [will begin] casting next month,” the source added.

In November, mid-day had reported that Yash Raj Films, one of Bollywood’s premier studios, was gearing up to set foot in the field of digital entertainment (YRF goes OTT, November 12). Through his web offerings, head honcho Aditya Chopra wanted to take stories rooted in India to the world, and he has remained true to his vision. For YRF Entertainment’s debut OTT series, the makers have gone back to one of the bleakest nights in Indian history — The Railway Men offers a retelling of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy with the focus on the railway workers at Bhopal station who saved countless lives.

Revisiting the world’s worst industrial disaster will be an uphill task. Chopra has placed his faith in debutant director Shiv Rawail, son of veteran filmmaker Rahul Rawail, for the job. The limited series will be headlined by R Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu and Babil Khan. A source reveals, “While Yash Raj movies are known for their star-studded cast, Adi knew that the show, given its subject, hinges on rock-solid performances. After months of discussing names, the team zeroed in on Madhavan and Kay Kay, two of the finest actors we have today.”

The narrative will take viewers through the late hours of December 2, 1984, when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide Corporation’s pesticide plant, injuring more than half a million people and claiming over 5,000 lives. The series — mounted on a budget of Rs. 100 crore — went on floors yesterday in Kalina, Mumbai, where a large set has been erected.

Yogendra Mogre, producer of House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths, will creatively supervise the project. Currently serving as executive producer at YRF Entertainment, Mogre says, “We won’t leave any stone unturned to ensure that The Railway Men reaches out to worldwide audiences so that they can understand the devastation that this tragedy caused in India.”

The series will mark the first of five OTT projects slated for 2022. Akshaye Widhani, senior vice president, Yash Raj Films, adds, “This is our tribute to the unsung heroes of the tragedy who, despite saving thousands of lives, are unknown to people across the world.”

The drama is slated for a December 2, 2022 release, with the makers currently locking the streaming platform.