Avinash Tiwary’s crime-thriller series Kaala completed one year since its release last year on Disney+ Hostar. Avinash called the experience ‘surreal’ and said that it feels like a personal milestone to him. Directed by Bejoy Nambiar, the show also starred Rohan Vinod Mehra, Nivetha Pethuraj, Taher Shabbir and Hiten Tejwani. The show is set against the backdrop of a complex financial crimes of converting black money into white.
Speaking about the show, Avinash, who plays IB officer Ritvik Mukherjee in it, said, “I love deciphering complexities of characters and I have been lucky enough to be trusted with some of the most complex characters navigating their ways in complicated waters. One of them has to be Ritwik in Bejoy Nambiar’s Kaala. He was a grey character well within the bounds of the law yet operating out of it because the situation demanded it and that intrigued me.”
He added, “After Disney+ Hotstar’s Kaala, I could sense a change in me. We spent months shooting at real locations for the show and those memories, those lessons and those complex situations where we had to be quick on our feet are still fresh in my head. It’s surreal to celebrate a year to Kaala. It feels like I’m celebrating a personal milestone.”
Bejoy Nambiar spoke of the show and said, “With Disney + Hotstar’s Kaala, I always wanted to experiment with the genre and my style as a filmmaker and Kaala was a great window to channel that expression. I have always believed that an artist should break his glass ceiling and through our show, I will always be indebted to my team of writers, my cast and my crew who really put their heart and soul into making this passion project. Amidst the chaos and the chase on one side of the spectrum, I wanted to explore the humane side and the various dynamics between my actors and with my set of actors like Avinash, Rohan, Jitin, Nivetha, Elisha, Taher and others, I am glad we could pull it off so well.”
Taher Shabbir, who has essayed the character of Naman Arya said, “I have always viewed Kaala as a dark horse and our collaboration with a platform like Disney+ Hotstar and T-Series has taken the show to the next level. Playing a character like Naman Aarya has channelled so many emotions for me and tapped into an unknown side of me which was truly fulfilling and possible only with the guidance and help of Bejoy sir as my long-standing wish of working with him came true.”
Rohan Vinod Mehra, who played the role of an ex-army officer and Ritwik’s father said, "Kaala wasn’t an easy show to film, but it was an incredible experience. From the moment Bejoy narrated the flow of events to me, I was instantly captivated. It's a dream come true for any actor to portray such a complex character as mine in Kaala. Every actor yearns for roles that challenge them and dive deep into the realm of intricate and dark personas. For me, music is a big part of me when it comes to cinema, so, Kaala was a great mix of all for me. The fact that it’s celebrating its one-year anniversary fills me with immense pride. I am overjoyed as we commemorate this milestone today and look back on the incredible journey.”
