The benchmark espionage drama, Special Ops 2 began streaming last week on JioHotstar. It is said that cinematically, good films or series happen but cannot be designed, but the Special Ops series, now a full five years old, seems to be the exception that proves this rule. Each and every season seems to be completely designed—and successfully so—for total entertainment. In short, the team seems as much determined to give us a heady mix of thrills and patriotism laced with production scale that can only be described as ‘Wow!’ as the characters in the series are obsessed with defeating the enemies of our nation.
We indulge in a quick tete-a-tete with the team at Mumbai’s Grand Hyatt.
Karan Tacker, Actor
You have been a fixture with Neeraj Pandey and Friday Storytellers and Special Ops now for 5 years. Do you feel that in this phase, the audience taste has changed?
I think that good content always resonated, pre-Covid, Covid or later. Special Ops, 1 and 1.5, were loved so widely, and if what we made is good, so will this season. For the audience to stick for seven to eight hours, it is all about writing plus performance. But technically, so far as Friday Storytellers is concerned, I have also done a season of Khakee. The script is so well-thought of, even at the emotional level, that it is very easy to come and do the job.
Taher Raj Bhasin, Actor
You have usually done villainous roles, starting with your debut in the film, Luv Ka The End 14 years ago and later, and Mardaani. How do you look at this role, where all the villainy is done with mind rather than action?
There are different kinds of villainy. This is a great question, and my answer is that no one is good or bad, but all of us are products of our circumstances. So is my character here. Neeraj-sir has given me a backstory, so I believe I am a reformer. My first rule is not to judge any character. Here, I can call him a good guy in bad circumstances.
Is it easier to do such characters vis-à-vis a typical baddie?
Let me put it this way—it is much more challenging and fun!
What matters more? Good roles or success?
I am greedy. I want content with commercial success. Anyone saying he does not want success is lying! And I think the script chooses you, a maker shortlists you!
Saiyami Kher, Actor
How do you look at the main villain of Special Ops 2—AI?
I think it is a frightening time. But I watch Black Mirror and I also think that the raw emotions in films and sports can never be replicated. Only human beings can go dil se dil tak.
How do you relate to a mainstream project like Special Ops when most of your work is mid-stream rather than mainstream?
If I have done Choked, Agni and Ghoomer, I have also done Jatt. An artiste needs to do everything, just only the opportunities must come. I would 100 percent love to dance in Switzerland—I have grown up on that kind of film!—and I manifest doing that. Also, I am fortunate that I am getting to do action here. When I met the legendary Waheeda Rehman, she told me that our generation is fortunate that such roles come my way. We have indeed come a long way from women stereotypes.
How do you choose your roles?
Sometimes the role, sometimes a filmmaker, because there I am so selfish about working with him that I won’t even ask what I am doing in his movie! I am not too choosy or picky. I just want to keep working.
Neeraj Pandey, Writer & Co-director
You have specialized in thrillers. How do you select a subject? Is it the ongoing trends?
As for subjects in my films and series, we cannot predict what will work as it takes two to three years to make and release one. So we cannot say that a trend will stay on. We call ourselves storytellers because we are storytellers, so we try everything—sports, music and so on. We are genre-agnostic! We like to try something new even within a genre, like AI and cyber-attacks now. Work on AI has been actually going on since the 1960s, but it was not in the public domain.
There is an explosion in thrillers in the last decade or so. Why is that, when at one time, action dramas were considered B-grade cinema?
There are multiple platforms now, and a thriller is the most accessible genre. This genre also got a face-lift because there are many true-life incidents happening that can be documented.
How challenging is working on a script and directing it?
When I think of you journalists’ work, I tend to think that it must be difficult. You must be thinking the same about us! But it’s a simple process for whoever is actually doing his job, whether it’s you or me. I don’t think I have ever discussed anything extensively with my team.
How do Shivam Nair and you divide the directorial responsibility?
Shivam takes care of the India schedule, I take the ones abroad, but we do sometimes crisscross! I have had a journey with him and we get each other easily, so there is no issue in the seamlessness.
Kay Kay Menon, Actor
After the earlier seasons did so well, do you feel any pressure now?
I think the pressure is now on the audience to make it a hit! (A hint of a smile).
(Vinay Pathak, Actor, interrupting)
Kay Kay is always stressed! He never smiles. But I never take pressure!)
Kay Kay, will you be sitting on a table again answering probing questions?
Watch the series—there is something interesting in that aspect.
How do you interpret characters, as you play every kind of role?
I figure them out mentally, emotionally or temperamentally. I like to play people, so I internalize, but can’t quantify how much I put into each role. It’s how you play people that makes them different. There is no formula.
How is it working on Himmat Singh with Neeraj Pandey?
Neeraj’s most unique point is his way of writing. When you read it, both the text and subtext come across. You just have to be there and perform and not show off. It’s very important what not to do!
Shivam Nair, Co-director
Would you agree to that?
I have humongous respect for Neeraj’s writing. It is very precise, and there is so much clarity.
Vinay Pathak (interrupting again)
I think that the least spoken about entity whose work in a film or series is very significant is the writer. Good writing makes or unmakes a story. Neeraj is a prime example of why a director should also be a writer!
You and Kay Kay have worked together so often outside? How would you describe your association?
Yes, we have been friends for a while, so it is a privilege to get together, drink together and be together again. For us, those 40 days are more important than the outcome. It is a time of being with like-minded friends like Kay Kay and Shivam, who also I have known for years. The joy is of spending time together, laughing, being creative and bouncing off each other as actors.
