Seasoned & sensitive: Prakash Jha remains away from social media

Mona

Prakash Jha, known for making hard-hitting films on social and political issues, is making a debut on the OTT platform with a web series titled Aashram. In this story of a conman masquerading as a godman, Bobby Deol plays the lead. The crime drama is spread over nine episodes.

Why this subject for a series? “Why not?” asks the filmmaker. “An intriguing story, nuanced characters and multiple plots, a team of writers and researchers had worked on this theme. So when MX Player approached me to produce and direct it, I did not think twice.”

As for casting Bobby Deol, who was recently seen in Class of 83, Jha explains, “I needed a believable face, so chose Bobby Deol. He is a good actor too. We wanted to work together for a while.”

Moving along

That the series courted controversy doesn’t deter Jha. “Right before the release it happens with many of my projects; people think kuch gadbad banaya hoga but the hullabaloo dies soon. I am a responsible filmmaker and that reflects in each subject that I pick up. We respect all religions, people’s beliefs and faith on their gurus. Aashram is the story of a conman who disguises as one, but it does not malign any faith. It is not a religious story,” he says.

The lockdown was all work for Jha. “Weeks went by arranging and negotiating after the production of Aashram. Since everything happens digitally now, work was going on.” Though we are still in the grip of Covid-19, Jha is already moving on to his next project. “I am yet to finalise things, but there are three to four possible films; we will start with the shooting in January 2021. Most likely, Season 2 of Aashram is also on the cards.”

Never felt bullied

Ask the Satyagraha, Aarakshan and Gangaajal director if he feels that the industry, with talks of lobbying and nepotism, is turning out to be a toxic place and he says, “I don’t feel so. I have been

continuously working and never felt bullied. While that has been my experience, things may not be same for everyone else, which is why the noise is being made.”

Jha remains blissfully away from social media where the wars of hashtags are fought. “Being on social media is like giving people another weapon to attack you. I have never been on Facebook or Instagram. We do have a Twitter handle where we put film-related stories, but I don’t like to handle it myself much.”

So, did he find the web medium any different? “Though it is my first web series, I did not find it any different from films. It’s been written, shot and treated in a manner befitting a film.”

(Aashram releases on August 28 on MX Player)

mona@tribunemail.com