The web series ‘The Revolutionaries’ is the story of those young revolutionaries of the freedom struggle who were less discussed. This series is based on Sanjeev Sanyal’s book ‘Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom’. While talking to Dainik Bhaskar, director Nikhil Advani said that after ‘Freedom at Midnight’ he felt that the youth’s perspective was missing in such stories. He praised Pratibha Ranta and said that if she had refused to do the show, he would have been heartbroken. Nikhil also narrated the story of Manoj Bajpayee, who after working together after 25 years, had asked – ‘Have you come now?’ Pratibha described the preparation for the character and Rohit Saraf described the action as a challenge. Question: Earlier also you have told stories related to independence. What was there in ‘The Revolutionaries’ that you felt was missing in the earlier stories? Answer/Nikhil Advani: I felt that youth was missing. We have read a lot about Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Udham Singh and Jallianwala Bagh. But even about 10 years before this, a parallel story was going on. While doing research, I felt that the story of these youth should also be told. The revolutionaries of that time had a different kind of passion. He had decided that the British had to be thrown out of India. How to do it was a matter for later. This passion is what attracts me most in this story. Question: When did you see the talent in Pratibha Ranta that was necessary for this character? What would have happened if she had refused to do the show? Answer/Nikhil Advani: For me, going to an actor is not just casting. I don’t want to approach an artist unless I have something for him to immerse himself in. Same was the case with Pratibha. I knew she was a very good actor, but it was also important to understand how she would portray the character. We discussed many scenes for months. Talked line by line about what it means and how to do it. If Pratibha had declined the show, I would have been truly heartbroken. Because what he has given to this character is very special. I always believe that there should be a challenge within an actor that can I make this scene better? Can I take it beyond the scene written on paper? If it is not a challenge then the work becomes boring. Question: You said that you don’t cast an artiste just because he is a big name. What is the story of Manoj Bajpayee’s 25 years? Answer/Nikhil Advani: Manoj Bajpayee had been telling me for almost 25 years that he wanted to work with me. When I finally went to him with ‘Satyamev Jayate’, he asked me – ‘Have you come now?’ I don’t believe in running after a busy star. It is important for me that I have the right character for that artist. I don’t go to any actor just because he is a big name. I have to come up with a character in which he can sink his teeth and immerse himself completely. Same thing happened with Pratibha also. I found the right role for him and then we explored it together. Question: Pratibha, how did Nikhil sir explain the character to you? Answer/Pratibha Ranta: When I read the script, a lot of it was already there because sir and his team had done a lot of research. But not much information was available about the talent. Therefore, inspiration was also taken from other revolutionary women. I read about women like Bhikaji Cama and Bibi Gulab Kaur. I also love the movie ‘Little Women’ and got inspired by that too. There was constant discussion with Sir as to how to approach Pratibha. She doesn’t look like a normal girl on screen. He has confidence and fire. She demands equal rights and does not shy away from expressing her views. Question: Which scene was most special for you during the shooting? Answer/Pratibha Ranta: A scene between Bagha Jatin and Pratibha is very special for me. In that Pratibha tells him who gave you the right to decide about us? If you can take decisions for yourself then why can’t we? Pratibha’s perspective is clearly visible in that scene. She sees women as equal and wants to take her own decisions. Nikhil Advani: This scene was shot at around 5 in the morning. The shooting was delayed and it was the last day of the location, so we couldn’t even come back. Pratibha and I had been talking about that scene for months. She was very upset at that time, but the performance she performed at 5 in the morning was fantastic. This is a very important scene of his character and he played it brilliantly. Question: Rohit, what was the most challenging thing for you in the show? Answer/Rohit Saraf: The scenes with Rajbihari Bose were very special for me. I got a chance to play a character that I admire a lot. It was very fun for me to do interpersonal relationship scenes with him. But the most challenging was the action. I had not done this much action before. Prepared for it and learned a lot during the shooting. Question: If a revolutionary from that era came in front of you today, what would you ask? Answer/Rohit Saraf: I will ask him- ‘What were you born eating?’ Really, because of the kind of spirit and passion that the people of that era had, we are here today. I would like to know what it was like to dream like that? Question: What can today’s girls learn from Pratibha’s character? Answer/Pratibha Ranta: Not only girls, boys can also learn a lot from this character. The way talent understands the world, looks at people and demands equal rights is important. There is a feeling of equality within him. She believes that if boys can take their own decisions then girls also have every right to take their own decisions. Question: Can a film be made on a story like ‘The Revolutionaries’? Answer/Nikhil Advani: It can definitely be made. But I like the format of the series because it gives me the opportunity to explore the characters in more depth. There is romance, action and many characters have their own layers. Even if this was a film, I would have worked with these actors. I chose Rohit, Pratibha and the rest of the cast because they were perfect for the characters I had in mind. It doesn’t matter to me whether the format is OTT or film. The right actor and the right character are most important.
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मैं किसी स्टार के पीछे नहीं भागता: निखिल आडवाणी बोले- 25 साल बाद मनोज बाजपेयी संग काम किया तो उन्होंने कहा- अब आए हो
