Mithun Chakraborty makes web debut in Amazon’s Bestseller

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On February 8, Amazon Prime Video unveiled the trailer of the much-awaited series, Bestseller, which marks Mithun Chakraborty’s debut on the web. The psychological thriller is a blend of suspense and drama, which will take audiences on a journey into the dark labyrinth of flawed human nature.

Produced by Siddharth P. Malhotra’s Alchemy Production LLP and directed by Mukul Abhyankar, Bestseller features an ensemble star cast including Shruti Haasan, Arjan Bajwa, Gauahar Khan, Satyajeet Dubey and Sonalee Kulkarni in prominent roles. The series will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on February 18, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“As soon as I read the script, I found it so exciting and thrilling, that I instantly knew it would make for a fascinating watch,” said director Mukul Abhyankar. “My experience of working with the cast and crew and shooting with this exceptionally talented team at some of the most authentic locations in the country has been amazing. I am certain the audience is going to love every suspenseful minute of the series and will be left asking for more by the end of the eighth episode!”

Now, now, does it mean that the story will remain incomplete again with a cliffhanger, the gold-mine for web drama makers just like sequels are for the big screen?

Speaking about the series, Mithun Chakraborty said, “Lokesh Pramanik, my character, is a unique personality with interesting quirks. I enjoyed playing him with all his eccentricities. I also had a great time working with my talented co-stars on the series. Everyone worked really hard to bring their characters to life. I couldn’t have asked for a better streaming debut. I have a lot of faith in Mukul Abhyankar and believe he has done a commendable job in developing an extremely entertaining thriller.”

“I am thrilled that Bestseller is my full-feature digital debut,” said Shruti Haasan. “When Siddharth reached out to me for Bestseller, I was working on a number of projects and wasn’t sure if I could make this commitment, but the moment I went through the script, I couldn’t put it down. I was hooked to the layers in the story and found my character so compelling that I just had to do it. I always wanted to enter this space with a female lead story and it was an amazing opportunity to play a character I couldn’t pass up. I have worked hard to prepare for my role and I am really looking forward to seeing the audience’s reaction to the series.”

Arjan Bajwa added, “The story of Bestseller is one that will have the audiences completely riveted – each character is so distinct, played to perfection by the very talented cast, expertly guided by the vision of Mukul. The entire narrative is so intriguing and well-layered. I am quite excited about my role as Tahir Wazir, a successful and assertive writer, whose life undergoes drastic twists and turns, when he crosses paths with a stranger. Given the multiple layers to the character, it was a challenging role to play, but at the same time a fantastic experience as an actor.”

“I was probably the first of the cast to come on board the team of Bestseller as Siddharth, the producer, saw Mayanka in me,” shared Gauahar Khan. “The character is very multifaceted. She has complex relationships with those around her and strives to strike a balance in her professional and personal life. She is someone with whom a lot of women will identify. Mukul has dealt with the nuances of my character beautifully.”

Satyajeet Dubey said, “It is every actor’s dream to have their work reach out to the widest possible audience and I am excited for the global release of Bestseller on Amazon Prime Video. This was a complicated and challenging role – with multiple layers to the character, and I thoroughly enjoyed pushing myself to give it my best. I am also glad to have worked with such a talented team, which made working on this series an enjoyable experience.”

Sonalee Kulkarni stated, “With Bestseller, I am making my digital debut and I am delighted to be a part of this wonderful series. Shooting for a series is a very different experience from a movie, but Mukul made it easy. I am also thrilled I got to work so closely with Mithun-da. He is such an experienced and amazing actor with an impeccable work-ethic. When we shot our scenes together, we hardly did any rehearsals or even retakes. As our characters go about solving the mystery of Bestseller, I am sure the audience will be glued to the edge of their seats.”

The series is about celebrated novelist Tahir Wazir, who is facing a writer’s block. He meets Meetu Mathur, a simple girl from a small town who is a huge fan and seeks his guidance in writing her own story. Desperate to fulfill his publisher’s expectations, Tahir decides to use her story for his own novel. Will Tahir be able to write his next bestseller?

Siddharth P. Malhotra, son to TV czar producer Prem Krishen and grandson of the legendary Premnath and Bina Rai, has himself been a part of several shows and directed We Are Family and Hichki. Mukul has written or directed films and serials, including Missing, Gubbare, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and others.