‘Raakh’s’ purpose is not just to show crime’:Ali Fazal shares ‘After ‘Mirzapur’, I chose this series due to the strong story’

Bollywood actor Ali Fazal recently appeared in the crime thriller series ‘Raakh’. This 8-episode series was released on Prime Video on 12 June. It is inspired by the 1978 Ranga-Billa case that took place in Delhi. Ali played the role of Sub-Inspector Jaiprakash Jatav in it. He had a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar about his role and this series. What was the reason for saying yes to this series?
This story is extremely relevant in today’s time. Although its inspiration is taken from a notorious case, which is still fresh in people’s minds. Delhi has changed a lot compared to that era, but many people from that time still meet and tell what all happened then. Recently, someone told me that both the accused in that case were also seen in the JVPD area of Mumbai. This makes the case even more shocking. At the same time, the question also arises as to how many such cases are happening today. In my opinion, cinema is needed when people need to be made aware that what happened to one family should not happen to anyone else. Also, I found Jaiprakash’s character very interesting. What all did you do to embody Jaiprakash’s character?
My entire team made a significant contribution to shaping this character. We all sat down and did a lot of research and studied extensively. Initially, we only read the scenes, then gradually delved into the character’s world. We tried to understand that if this is a person from that era, what would his nature be like, what would his habits be. The story is set in the post-Emergency period, so there was a lot of discussion on how the police functioned during that time. For example, at that time, constables in Delhi were forbidden from wearing shorts. People’s language was also quite refined, and they mostly spoke in Hindi. In my opinion, understanding all these aspects in depth was extremely important to get to the core of this character. What impact did this series have on the audience?
I am receiving very diverse and interesting reactions from people. Usually, in such stories, either only the criminal’s perspective is shown or only the police’s, but in this series, a balance has been maintained between both. For me, the most important aspect of this is ‘the restriction of the uniform’. When you wear a uniform, a limit is set for your work, and you have to operate within that boundary. People think that the police have a lot of freedom, but reality is not always like that. In this series, my character also appears like a common person, who tries to solve this case with full dedication and honesty. This is probably what is connecting the audience to him. How was your experience shooting for the web series ‘Raakh’?
According to me, the shooting lasted for about one and a half to two months. Our directors wished that we shoot at real locations and not build sets. Therefore, most of the shoot happened at real places. We did a lot of shooting in Agra and its surrounding areas. After that, we worked in Mumbai, and then the main shooting took place in Delhi. The interesting thing was that Delhi’s schedule was set for March, when it is quite hot there. Is the film’s story becoming more central than the star cast in today’s time?
Yes, I completely agree with this. The day the story becomes the real hero of a film, the whole game will change. After that, if good actors join that story, things get even better. I believe that if the story is not strong, the entire film cannot be sold solely on the strength of a big name. What do you look for in any project before choosing it?
I choose any script very carefully. After ‘Mirzapur’, this is the first show I have chosen. Becoming a part of a series was a big step for me, because compared to films, stories in series are presented with more detail and depth. Many layers of characters unfold, and a lot of effort has to be put into it. That’s why, while choosing any project, I first check who its maker is. Along with this, I pay special attention to these three things: the producer, the director, and the story. When these three are strong, half the work automatically becomes easy.