-Done?
-I don't think so. I want to go home. Is there another interview? Who? Yeah, it’s the round table thing, right? -Round table.
-What? Rohan Joshi? -Yes.
-Who is Rohan Joshi? I don't know.
It seems he is some stand-up comedian. He's here. Hi, Rohan. Hi! Hi! -Hello! Hi! Hi!
-Hi! Hi! Hi! -Hi.
-Hi. Hi.
-Hi, Nimisha. Hi! Hi!
-Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! So, good to… I didn't hear anything. That's… Okay. He didn't. Yeah. But we didn't say anything also.
Yeah, we didn't say anything. Yeah. Yeah. Cool
. How are you? I'm good. How are you? Yeah, good. Good. Congrats. So cool that this is not awkward. Congrats for your show. -Thanks.
-Thanks. Thanks. Hello, my name is Rohan Joshi and I have with me here today the cast
of the fantastic new show, Poacher. I have here with me Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Nimisha Sajayan and Roshan Mathew. Welcome to the show. I'm really happy
to be here speaking with you. In case anybody here is wondering what my
qualifications are to do this interview, I'm wondering th
e same,
so please let me know. All right. On that note,
let's just get straight into it. Yes, Rohan. Hi. Your show is called Poacher. The name doesn't give anything away.
What is it about? It's… Oh, good job, guys. Good job. Good start. We are off to a great start. Most synchronised turn
in the history of time. So, both of them have looked at you.
So, Roshan, we're going to start with you. It's about an animal poaching case
being investigated. -Okay.
-The hunt for poachers basically, by the Kera
la Forest Service, a couple of people in the Kerala Forest
Service and people who help them. Okay. You also must have had to
research on the poaching industry, and I'm imagining
that was quite depressing. So, I am curious what did
you guys learn while preparing for this. When we came to know… The description in the script… -The facts in the script were…
-Yeah. -They were shocking.
-Yeah. -500 elephants something like that…
-Yeah. …were killed. And it's staggering numbers, right? But I think for
all three of us, our research had to be
more character-oriented because these people
do exist in some capacity. -Okay.
-It's not exactly like… everything the way one person did it, but these characters
are all based on real people. So, for me, I think I felt the research
was very through their perspective. It's their reasons for doing what they do and what moves them or what
makes them so passionate about this job. It was really… We don't usually see
investigative thrillers that often about anim
al poaching. For me, it was like
when I read the script, like the incident happened in Kerala
and I was unaware of it, you know, and I think most of the people
are still unaware of it. So I just felt like
we have to tell this story. -I was not aware of it either.
-Yeah. What drew you to sort of doing… Because you've always picked roles
that sort of have this societal impact or there is a sort of thought to it. First is Richie Mehta as I said. -I always wanted to work with Richie.
-Right. I would
have said yes
even if it was a small role. What was it like working with Richie Mehta? Who we all know is very
special and excellent storyteller. But, I am very curious as to your expreiences
of working with him on set I have seen his work before
but experiencing that energy on the set was something else, you know. He seems like a very tough guy
but he is very fun. He is very fun to be around. But is that like when you meet him for
the first time, is that your experience that this is a very s
erious, tough person? Yes, when I met him
for the first time, he was a little… -Yeah.
-Giving the Richie Mehta attitude. After that it was fun.
And there are directors who stick to what's exactly
on the script, you know, and there are directors who are like it's your space,
do whatever you want to do and I think Richie is one of them. He is like just do
whatever you want to do. -Okay.
-He is fascinating, actually. I had the same experience
working with Richie. When I met Richie for the first tim
e, I thought he was a strict guy
who understands only cinema and I won't be able
to crack jokes with him. Yeah. But later, it became quite easy because when you all are
on the same page, you understand. Richie’s script is so well-researched and he always has
his script clutched in his hand 24/7. and by seeing that, you understand, that the script is imprinted
in his heart and mind. So, he’s constantly thinking about the craft. After my first conversation
with the person whose character mine is
based on, I had a conversation with Richie
where I asked him, "So, you don't want me
to become him superficially or be like him to look at?" And he said no, no, no, I want the inner. So he sends you on a hunt for the reason
why these people are doing what they do. And that's super interesting to work with. And I am guessing
it's cool to sort of show up and be like,
oh, if this person is so invested, -I have to be. Right?
-Yeah. -Not just
-Yeah. As Roshan said, his energy, his dedication
and his
world, -you feel like matching to a similar energy.
-Match that energy, yes. And be there, you know, as a comrade. -Yeah.
-As a co-worker. -Like we can't let him down.
-We can't let him down. -Yeah.
-That's great actually for a director. In the case of Mala also,
he said find shades of Mala in you. And what shades of Mala did you find? I think it's aggression. What are you looking at me for? He backed away when you said that. -No, we are great friends.
-Yeah. And other things you have to say
so
she doesn't hit you. -But okay, let's--
-He is my best friend. Blink twice if you need rescuing. No, we are good. We are good. The show called Poacher
about animals, gigantic elephant involved, but no real elephant on set. We can't talk about
the elephant in the room -because there wasn't.
-There wasn't one. So what's it like?
I'm very curious as to what it's like because you're on location,
you are in the forest, etc. So what's it like
working around this sort of VFX thing that is supposed to
be there?
Is that something you have done a lot? What was the challenge in that? So I just remember one duck is passing. -Yeah, yeah, there are a lot of those… I think it was also easier on us because this is more about
them watching us than us watching them. -This show.
-Right. It's like the story is
being told from their world. -Right.
-Yeah, it's actually more work for them who weren't there or created yet, but yeah, there were little things
that we had to imagine here and there but Richie ma
de it very easy. His descriptions, his script,
everything is very detailed. Okay. So you get a fairly good idea
of what he wants you to be looking at -even if there is nothing.
-Right. So, there is no… it's not like
you are looking at a volleyball or a pole. -Not a volleyball.
-But we had those balls, remember? -Those two.
-Yeah, yeah. Okay, so I am one hard-core city boy, so I have this very important question. Shooting in a forest - Easy? Hard? Difficult?
Interesting? Fascinating? Please. It w
as very cool to be working there and obviously,
because of the topic we are dealing with, it was also like a very clean set. -We were not littering the place.
-Yeah. -That must have been…
-He had given us-- You want to make sure
that you leave the forest as you found it. So it was a very guilt-free experience and we got to work there.
We got to walk-in into places that otherwise we probably
might not be allowed to. We got special access to a few spots. -We had leech season.
-Yeah. Oh, leech seas
on. Every forest's most
spectacular delight is leech season. Please tell me more about leech season. Oh my God, that was intense. When we were walking up past… -Okay, I can't say anything. It'll spoil…
-Yeah, the climax. They would just be climbing up your-- Who plucked the most leeches
off themselves? We had people who were designated
to pluck leeches off the actors. -Leech pluckers.
-Yeah. Leech pluckers.
I don't want to hear any spot person in an urban set complaining ever again because Leec
h Plucker
is not a job that you get. So were leeches the biggest challenge? -No.
-No. Definitely, like not… Remember, Johan while he was shooting it, had leeches literally crawling up his feet -and he wouldn't remove them.
-Like 10 to 15. -Yeah. So he just let them be.
-Yeah. And he'd be walking around
with the camera shooting us and there are like three
hanging on his left leg. You know, when you're in a forest,
you've got to accessorise. That actually brings me then
neatly to my next question.
What was the toughest
day on the set? where you were like, oh, I need…
This is hard. For me, it was the first day I would say. -Oh, yeah, first day.
-Because I was still trying to -figure out the character.
-Yeah. -So the first day is always tough.
-Always tough. The first day is always scary.
I don't know. -The first day is always scary for me.
-Me too. I feel that I don't know anyone,
it's a new set. For me it's not that I don't know anyone,
it's that I don't know the character. You are tryi
ng to figure it out. But I feel that I don't know anyone, I fumble a lot. I fear that I may not be able
to capture the essence of the character. I still fear these things.
These thoughts come to my mind. I am kind of shaken. I am in a very vulnerable situation. I wonder if someone
is judging me because… So, the first day is always
very dangerous for me. I'm sorry, it's just difficult for me
to hear you say that you feel vulnerable. I think of all the parts
I have seen you in. and vulnerable is n
ot a word
that I associate with you. No, I mean, slowly and steadily
you capture that character, but the first day is, oh, my God. Mala is a very intense character,
something that I have never tried before. So I wanted to explore the character and I have never worked in a series. I had worked in films,
but I had never worked in a series. And it was challenging for me because in the morning,
you're shooting a scene from episode one and in the evening,
you're shooting a scene from episode five. So
keeping track of things that
are happening between the characters, with Mala, with Dibyendu, with Roshan. So, that was a bit challenging.
You know it was tricky. And what is the hardest part of that sort of going from
okay scene one characters are here, episode five, now my dynamic
with this person has fully changed. You know, the emotional continuity.
I mean, that is a bit challenging. -Emotional continuity.
-Yeah, that was challenging. -That's a beautiful phrase.
-But it was fun, you know. So
my first scene
was the last scene in the series. -Oh, yeah!
-Yeah! We started with
the absolute last scene of the series. As an actor that's,
I'm very curious about that because by this point your first scene
is literally supposed to be the thing that has the emotion loaded
from eight episodes. How do you even do that? Or then do you not feel 10 days later
that man, I had completely misread this? Of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you do. But I think for me, luckily… Because this is an actual guy,
ri
ght, my character, who I am playing. And all my conversations
with him before the shoot had happened after this phase in his life, this particular case
and like this story had happened to him. So where I met him is sort of -where he is at the end of the series.
-Okay, nice. So there was that for reference
but nothing else. It's still really scary. I mean like it's scary even right now. Now I feel like oh no,
I've revealed it now to everybody -that that's what I shot first.
-That's great. I think
our audience
should take comfort from the fact that we have three extremely
talented professionals here. But it's good to know that the nervousness
you feel on the first day of school, never goes away from your life. And you can be 40 years old, 50 years old and you will still be in a situation
where you feel it. I am putting out on the spot. If you had to pitch this show
to your audience, aside from the fact
that you've got three very talented people and an awesome CGI elephant in it, why shou
ld we watch this show? And Richie and everyone else
who has worked on it. But I think also it's very original.
That's what I felt when I read it. Obviously, it speaks
about a very relevant issue. -Yeah.
-And the way this particular team
does its investigation also, for me was a lot of fun,
was very entertaining. They don't have all the systems in place, they don't have the manpower they need, they don't have, you know,
guns to pull out. -Correct.
-It's all make-shift. That's a lot of fun to watc
h them
just figure out how to do this. It is definitely entertaining. But the best thing is
we are trying to convey a message. -We have something to say.
-Right. You know something to say. And when people get something to watch
on an entertainment platform, -they can relate with it too.
-Yeah. For me, it's more like we will be
compelled to understand how our actions -reflects on the wildlife, you know.
-Yeah. -Right.
-So I think that's going to be some… Yeah, you are right.
I mean poaching is de
finitely a subject that you see in the news a lot. But to sort of give emotional investment
and have people go, this is something that has
very real tangible consequences. -Yeah.
-I'm quite excited. And it's going to be
a roller coaster ride. -Oh.
-Yeah. Is it going to be another show
were we get really sad at the end for all the animals on Earth? I just need to know. -It won't be sad, it will be happy but…
-Okay. Yeah. I guess you will be
a little more cautious if it works on you. -A little mor
e aware of…
-Aware, actually. …it being their world. That we share this planet
with so many things. -Yeah.
-So many other species. Well, thank you to the three of you
for joining us here today. It's been a really, really great chat. If there's anything
you would like to say to our audience. -Do watch our show, Poacher on…
-Poacher on Prime. -On Amazon Prime Video on 23rd Feb.
-On 23rd Feb. Don't miss it. And also remember
that elephants are very large animals, they have very large memories. So i
f you have any ivory at home
or if you don't watch Poacher, I hope the largest, least forgetful
elephant finds you and sits on you. But until then, thank you for watching. Thank you and good luck for your show. -Thank you. Please watch it.
-Thank you so much.
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