Siddharth Malhotra: Paisa Vasool is the right word for 'Bestseller'

Picture Courtesy: Official Instagram Account, Siddharth Malhotra

Filmmakers Mukul Abhayankar and Siddharth Malhotra get candid on their upcoming show Bestseller that drops on Amazon today on February 18.

What were the discussions regarding the casting of the series? Siddharth says, "We wanted people who suited the characters since it's a psychological thriller. We wanted actors but with some amount of star value. To get an actor with a star value, that process was discussed between the three of us. Certain casting was pre-decided. While writing only certain casting comes to your mind and you feel certain people will play certain roles so you pick up the phone and say ‘hey this is a script, why don't you read this and be a part of it." And that's exactly what happened with this show.

Ask the filmmaker what fascinated him about the subject, he answers, "The story itself. I read the script even before the manuscript was released. Ravi Subramanian, who's the author of the book, is a very dear friend of mine. When he gave me the manuscript, we were meeting to collaborate on a film. He asked me to read the manuscript which I loved. My co-producer, Raj Mehta, who's my uncle, we decided to buy the manuscript and make it into a series. We decided as a film we will never be able to do justification to the subject. And while writing the series, we realised we cannot just stick to the book. We have to add new plots and elements. So eventually, the contribution of all the writers, Anvita, Althea, Mukul, drove me to say that this story has to be told."

Mukul Abhayankar then talks about the freedom a filmmaker has while making a series sans censorship and length issues. Does he agree entirely? "It's not entirely true because a filmmaker has to worry about censorship." He adds, "I almost started my journey way back with Siddharth and that journey also allowed me to be a producer. So one thing you teach yourself is that you're not going to shoot a single thing extra that will cost the producer or the platform extra pain. Our production was very tight and we didn't shoot a single thing more than the written words. Though you're making eight episodes, you're making three films. It's really overwhelming content."

Siddharth then goes on to talk about the leading man of the show Arjan Bajwa, his evolution as an actor and if they are friends. "So Arjan and I are not friends, so to say. We have been in touch. It's very generous that he likes my work. I always select subjects that are not run-of-the-mill. I like taking risks. When I was writing Bestseller, Amazon, me, we came up with the idea of Arjan. There was a person called Swati Pandey who worked with Amazon before, she was our AP, she came up with the idea of Arjan. I said he'll be a great option for Tahir Wazir. Because Arjan is Tahir Wazir in every way. He's tailor-made for that role. He has done it so brilliantly. He has done readings with me and Mukul, with Gauahar, he has done photo sessions with Mukul. He's asked questions time and time again on his performance. I could see there's a hungry actor who wants to come out in a way he deserves. And I hope we have lived up to his expectations," he says.

What are the two gentlemen's favourite films and performances of Mithun Chakraborty? Mukul goes first. "I may have seen a 100 films of Mithun Da, but of course, films like Prem Pratigya, Hum Paanch, that was one of his first films he did after he graduated from FTII. I loved Mithun Da when he played normal characters because he's a phenomenal actor. I've also loved his maar-dhaad films as a part of that generation. And the usual suspects like Disco Dancer."

Siddharth then says, "Hum Paanch, Mrigayaa. So many films of his. There was Dhuan. I have seen him in all Umesh Mehra films. Umesh Mehra was my father's closest friend so I have grown up being on Umesh Mehra's sets and seeing Mithun Da in all those films, be it Mujrim, I love Boxer. He has done such a variety of films. But these are the few I can pick and say that they stayed with me."

Has Mukul ever faced a block just like his protagonist in the series? "Thankfully not. This was not given to me. When you're a director, you are always waiting for people to throw opportunities at you. I'm a trained writer. I've done the majority of my work with Sidharth. I have worked with many producers but a large body of work has been under his production," he says.

Ask Siddharth about the one takeaway from Bestseller, he answers, "I come from a film family so I'm very proud of films and being filmy. So to say. For me, a show has to entertain. For me, this is a full masala potboiler, without going pseudo-intellectual, esoteric in a dark zone, showing cleavage for eyeballs. We haven't used such tropes. We have gone towards the tropes of classy storytelling and strong performances. When I watch Scam 1992, Paatal Lok, I ask pe open to watch these shows. I want people to say the same about Bestseller. Paisa Vasool is the right word for this show because it's got it all - locations, stars, writing and the editing which is very fast-paced."