Apoorva Lakhia: Cracking the code

Gurnaaz Kaur

He has helmed films like Shootout At Lokhandwala, Ek Ajnabee, Haseena Parkar and now he ventures into the web world with Crackdown. Apoorva Lakhia, who has made a name for himself in the art of direction, says he has shot Crackdown in the same way he shoots a movie. Yes, it is digital and thus experimental, “But I’ve treated it like a movie. Be it the shoot, the equipment or even the actors, you will get the feel of a movie that you can watch even on your cellphone.”

Apu, as he is fondly called in the industry, says his focus was to bring something as short and crisp as a movie, something which will prove to be a new flavour for OTT viewers. Eight episodes of 30 minutes each, Crackdown is an espionage thriller that stars Saqib Salim, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Iqbal Khan, Waluscha De Sousa, Rajesh Tailang and Ankur Bhatia.

And this cast was a clear choice. “Once Suresh Nair and Chintan Gandhi handed me the script, I just knew who could play which part.”

The experience of working in Crackdown has been amazing for Saqib. This series is special for him for more than one reason. “I have always wanted to explore this genre but never got the opportunity. And then it was Apu, the master of action films who was directing it. It was a great chance to play an action hero, so when I got to know about the role, I knew I had to do it.”

Sharing some details about his character, Saqib says, “I play RP, a secret service agent. With the information from intel and his subordinates, he extracts terrorists even before the police gets to know about them. He is on a covert operation to eliminate danger before the danger eliminates the country.”

Saqib says his character is quite real and so is the series. “It isn’t like I am fighting 20 people alone. We are a team on a mission and small issues give way to bigger conspiracy. Away from the job, I play a silent person who is always brooding, questioning his identity because people are always questioning his loyalty to the country.

Divulging some highlights about the storyline, Apoorva adds, “The show is based on a secretive agency that protects the country. It is slick, action-packed show. There are many layers to it.”

Starting with PaatalLok, since the lockdown, we’ve seen many action-thrillers being showcased. Is it about following a trend or simply a coincidence? Apu says, “Thriller is the mood of the moment. Having said that, we started making it exactly a year and 10 days ago. Yes, I did do the edits during the lockdown, which thankfully added life to those dreaded 60 days. At home, I had a team of editors and we turned a room into our workstation.”

The time has been particularly favourable for digital platforms and Apoorva happens to debut during the same time. “See, there is no denying that digital has got a life of its own. It is a personal way of watching but cinema is a public forum. That’s a collective experience of enjoying a film, reacting to it with a larger group. Nothing can take away that feeling. The current situation is sad. There are so many films to be made, some halfway through but no one will be considering cinema for a while.”

Crackdown isn’t Saqib’s first web series. But considering the ever-growing popularity of the medium, will it influence his choice between films and shows? “No. That’s not a fair question. It’s like being asked to choose between parents. Don’t we love our father and mother equally? For me, content is the deciding factor. I am an actor and I will do every such role that gives me an opportunity to experiment and grow.”

But Saqib agrees that web content is pushing the envelope. “Yes, the content is top notch. There are genres I haven’t done before and it gives the space to explore those. At the same time, theatrical films are as much a passion.”

He has recently finished shooting for Comedy Couple. He plays a standup comic in this film. “He smiles and makes other laugh,” he says.