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BOLLYWOOD SPECIAL JUNE 02, 2023 | The Indian Eye 40

Q&A WITH NEERRAJ PATHAK

‘People are loving ‘Inspector Avinash’ because of its story,

humour, action and brilliant acting by the cast’

eerraj Pathak is a prominent thank the whole team and yes with-
Indian film personality who is
Nthe creator, director and pro- out God’s blessing you don’t reach
anywhere. So, I want to especially
ducer of the superhit web series ‘In- mention Randeep Hooda, who has
spector Avinash’ on Jio Studio. The been a pillar of this show as he sin-
show is getting unanimously good re- gle-handedly headed the cast. He has
views and has got a thumbs up from immortalized Avinash’s character.
the audiences worldwide. Pathak is Avinash ji himself is amused that af-
being lauded all over the world for cre- ter watching Randeep, he could see
ating this gripping crime show series.
his younger self in him.
The casting of the series is just perfect, with
In an exclusive interview with Ekta all actors fitting well into their characters.
Saxena for The Indian Eye, the ac- How did you pick the cast for the series?
claimed director talks about the series Regarding casting, I am getting
and mantra of its success. Excerpts: lot of complements about the per-
fect casting, even for the smallest
How and when you decided to make In- character. I think the character brief
spector Avinash? You conceived it as a was very clear and Randeep was the
film or a series? first choice when I saw Avinash ji and
Inspector Avinash was conceived started writing about him. The more
around four years ago. Through one I became clear about his character,
of my friends, I happened to meet I thought only Randeep could do it.
Avinash Mishra and in our first meet- There is an amazing story behind it.
ing only we got connected together. I When I met him for the first time, his
was amazed by his persona and life manager Panchali who is like a sister
story. I immediately decided to make to me, took me to him. It was 10 in
a project with him, and I asked him the night, and he had just come af-
to give me his biopic rights and he ter finishing his gym. The first thing
agreed. At that time, I was not sure he told me, “Bro, welcome home but
what I will make, but his life had been except police officer’s role you can
a great drama with lots of stuff, so I narrate anything to me. I am not in-
thought it would be better to make a terested in doing a cop’s story.” I just
web series. Then, it took me almost looked at Panchali. She excused her-
two years to write the story. I spent a self and went out of the room, leav-
lot of time with Avinash, listening to ing me behind to handle it. I smiled
his stories, his style, his humour, all and said, “Bro, sorry to say, I have
his personal life. Then, everything I come here to narrate you a cop’s sto-
put down in the script and finally met ry only.” Then he gave me his reason
Jyoti Deshpande who is Jio Studio’s why he doesn’t want to do it. So, I
head. After hearing for 3-4 minutes said, “It’s okay if you don’t want to
about Avinash’s personality and the do it, no problem we will just have a
dialogues, she immediately agreed coffee, chit chat and I will go.” But
and said let’s make it. From there somehow Randeep felt that if I have
on, it was a beautiful journey. Then, I come all the way, at least he should
approached Randeep Hooda and all hear me out. I started narrating him.
other cast members; the rest is histo- Neerraj Pathak I just narrated first 2 scenes of the
ry. I was lucky that I could convince show in 5 minutes. Immediately, he
Jyoti Deshpande and Avinash Mish- are praising the cast, their perfor- the crew and cast, everyone from got glued to it and he said, “Bro, I’m
ra without any hassles or struggle. mance, the script, the flavour of UP, Randeep Hooda, Abhimanyu Singh, doing it.” So, Randeep was on board.
The series has been a hit with the view- the action and the wholesome enter- Urvashi Rautela, then Amit Sial, Then, rest of the cast especially the
ers. To what you attribute the success of tainment. Yes, I am very happy that Freddy Daruwala and lot of newer character of Devi that is played by
Inspector Avinash? audience is loving it. I would give the artists. I got 10 new artists who have Abhimanyu Singh was the most chal-
By God’s grace and by the grace credit first to the platform, Jio Stu- not worked much, and I gave break lenging cast for me because it was the
of Lord Krishna, we have been re- dios that gave me the opportunity to to them. So, I guess all these artists most unique character I wanted. If I
ceiving amazing response to the express myself. I was given complete gave their best to the show. My writ- had gone little overboard, this role or
show and it has caught like a wildfire. freedom to realise my mission and ers, co-writers, technical and post character could have fallen flat but
Everybody is watching it; everybody vision. Whatever, I thought about production team, each one of them kudos to Abhimanyu who agreed to
is praising it and everywhere they Inspector Avinash and his world, all contributed to the show. I want to Continued on next page... >>

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