'Mumbai Diaries 26/11' creator Nikkhil Advani: Fictional parts can’t match their courage

Sensharma and Raina in the series

Creating two big-budget projects back-to-back can be a daunting affair. But Nikkhil Advani is calm and assured, knowing that he has laced his upcoming Mumbai Diaries 26/11 - a retelling of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks - with sensitivity and empathy. The Amazon Prime Video offering is yet another example of how the filmmaker is drawn to real-life stories. "When I read real-life stories, they are unbelievable and the characters, incredible. Even if I start to create them as fictional parts, they will never be able to match the courage or bravery of real-life characters," emphasises Advani, who had a big release in The Empire last week.

Nikkhil Advani

The Konkona Sensharma and Mohit Raina-starrer is the filmmaker's tribute to the frontline workers who had saved countless lives on the fateful night. "My characters are unlikely heroes. [During my research], when I asked the doctors, nurses and hospital staff what they had done differently on 26/11, they said, ‘We didn't do anything different. We just came and did our job.' Ten terrorists had brought the city to its knees on that day, but the medical staff continued to do what they do - heal people." In a way, the eight-part series is also his ode to the Maximum City that stood tall despite being under siege. "The resilience and strength of the city need to come out when you finish watching the episodes. No matter what happened, the first train from Churchgate to Virar left on time. Full marks to the driver for showing up! That's what Mumbai is all about - we show up."

The terror attacks are deeply embedded in the memories of every Mumbaikar. Advani is no different. He remembers being at a film's premiere when word about the attacks started spreading. "One by one, our phones started beeping. We got to know that terrorists have entered Colaba. I remember watching the news, knowing exactly what was happening at the Taj [Mahal Palace Hotel]. I have captured the Metro junction shootout in the second episode."

Also read: Mohit Raina: The silence in the city shook me