‘Ranjish Hi Sahi’ director-writer Pushpdeep Bhardwaj talks about the challenges of creating golden era of 70s

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, January 17

Director-writer Pushpdeep Bhardwaj best known for his writing and direction in 2018 film ‘Jalebi’ is currently garnering praises for his web series ‘Ranjish Hi Sahi’, starring Tahir Raj Bhasin, Amala Paul and Amrita Puri, currently streaming on Voot. The story, based around a flailing director caught between a devoted wife and a sizzling superstar, is written and directed by Pushpdeep Bhardwaj and produced by Vishesh Entertainment production.

Set in the 70s, it explores a passionate love triangle between Shankar (Tahir Raj Bhasin), his wife (Amrita Puri) and a Bollywood starlet (Amala Paul).

Talking about the challenges of creating a 70s world Pushpdeep says, "I took on this challenge electrified and motivated. I wasn't born that time, so I had to create many reference points in order to recreate that era. I had to watch many films of 70s, meet people in the industry from that decade. I acquired many stories from all of that. Then I created a fictional world that touches and is inspired from Mahesh Bhatt's life but it is not based on his life."

Talking about the preparations and research that went into the show, Pushpdeep tells, “Luckily, I got very good actors through our casting directors Nishant and Vaibhav. I was very clear from the beginning about what I wanted to make and the actors in my unit were phenomenal. It’s half the job done when you get good actors because right casting is very important. I didn't want to create a melodrama show, the plan was to keep it real and at its own pace.

Check out these 'behind the scenes' photos:

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A post shared by Pushpdeep Bhardwaj (@pushpdeepbhardwaj)

With an influx of thrillers and crime dramas, Pushpdeep says ‘Ranjish Hi Sahi’ is “a breath of fresh air” and the audience will be able see the change in genre. “It was definitely challenging considering the kind of cinema nowadays people are watching. I knew I was going against the wave but wanted to take the risk and finally it worked. Also everyone showed the belief in me. I did a lot of homework from costumes to cars and everything of 70s. So, the whole unit was on the same page while shooting. Also, when you yourself write it, the procedure and vision comes out clear."

Speaking about how he struck a balance between real life events and fiction, he concludes, "Bhatt saab gave me full creative freedom and entrusted me with some of his life events. Web platform is a space where you can play with multiple tracks, unlike a film with fixed duration. Along with love story, I got an opportunity to create a parallel track and a whole world set in that era. I haven't kept any character in black or white shade, everybody is in greys because situation can be wrong but not a person, so with this aspect I have defined every character."

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