00:00Welcome to NS and congratulations for Chumbak that's about to release on Netflix.
00:04My first question is, open to all, open to the floor.
00:07When you were offered the show, when you were narrated the show,
00:09what was the initial thought that came to your mind about your characters
00:13or the entire premise of the show, the narrative?
00:16Anyone can take the lead.
00:17So, I guess when Atish was writing...
00:20I think it was a nepotism, right?
00:24Yeah, maybe actually.
00:27I've known Atish and JD for years now.
00:30And when Atish was writing this part, I guess...
00:33It was two or two years ago, my friend's birthday party, Rupali Ganguly.
00:39We were there and Atish told me that I'm writing a show for Netflix.
00:45And I would want you to play this part, tell us.
00:49And whenever it happens, we'll connect.
00:53And after a while, when he called me for audition, he called me.
01:03And he said, Delna is all the best.
01:05You don't have to worry about it because I really want you to play this part.
01:09So, that's the start of a journey from Bartliwala House No. 43 to Chumbak.
01:16It's been amazing with Hats Off and now with Netflix.
01:23So, mine is actually a very funny story because I was a manager and she got fired and she didn't
01:29tell me about this audition.
01:30So, she didn't tell me about this audition.
01:32And then I remember I messaged Jogi Sir myself, our casting director.
01:37And I said, you know, I heard you're auditioning for a series and it's a Parsi character.
01:41So, of course, you know, why haven't you called me?
01:43And he said, no, we told you and then you only said no because of, I don't know.
01:49So, I was like, oh, no, I'll come and audition.
01:51And yeah, I auditioned for him.
01:53Luckily, it worked out.
01:54And even JD told me, he was just like, I thought you weren't interested in the project.
01:57And I was like, no, that's not the case.
01:59So, yeah, I think I auditioned twice.
02:01And then I got the call.
02:02Keep quiet.
02:05Yeah, I got a call from Atish, sir, directly.
02:09And I am such a huge fan of Atish Kapadia and the entire universe that he has been creating
02:15for so many years.
02:16Whether Kichdi, Sarah Bhai.
02:21I think Sarah Bhai.
02:25And when he came, right from the get-go, it was a yes.
02:29There was no negotiation there, that I will listen to the script or I will listen to the character.
02:34But on top of it, when he said that he is a Parsi character, because I think, you know,
02:40a lot of people, because if you don't come from cultural backgrounds, you don't watch that
02:44way.
02:45So, for somebody to think that I can play a Parsi character and he said that, you know, I
02:50would like to test you for this, I was all in.
02:53And he literally narrated, I don't know whether it happened with you guys, but he was listening
02:57and listening to the scene, and I kind of wanted him to play every character that's there.
03:10Because he reads it so well.
03:11And at that moment, I was with this thought that I have to do this show.
03:16And I really want to be working with him.
03:19And he is very, very precious.
03:23I think he's one of its kind.
03:24We don't have directors and writers like him.
03:27He's unique.
03:28His brand is unique.
03:29So, yeah.
03:29I think he narrated the show or the premise to you.
03:32Did it in anywhere above on your performance?
03:34Absolutely.
03:35I copied him.
03:36So, anything that I'm doing, anything, yeah, anything that I'm doing, good or bad, it's
03:42him.
03:46Arjun, for you, I have a slightly different question.
03:48Okay.
03:49You are known for an intense role.
03:52But to switch to comedy and then to bring out a different side of your personality, the
03:56humor and everything, what was that like?
03:59So, yeah, it was, it was a challenge and, but like Anand said, when we met Atish sir and
04:06when he narrated it, he's like, Arjun, I think you can do this part really well, Mickey Oberoi.
04:12And I auditioned for it, obviously.
04:15And then I got a call for it that, you know, because to do each character, to give cues for
04:22each character, to each character, it's, it's not an easy thing to do with the same energy
04:27throughout the day.
04:27So, it was a pleasure working with them.
04:29And, and more than that, I think I manifested, you know, to work on Netflix.
04:36A year ago, my son used to watch me on TV and he's like, Papa, you never come on Netflix.
04:42So, I was like, next year I'm coming on Netflix.
04:45And, you know, it just happened that I got a call and it all fell in place.
04:49And I was very, very happy to begin this journey with Netflix and with Hats Off.
04:56Because JD sir, I met a few times, because I was doing this one show, which his show and
05:02my show, we had the same set, kind of the same compound.
05:05So, I used to keep bumping into him and he used to keep saying, Arrey, do you work with it?
05:09Do you work with it?
05:10Do you work with it?
05:16Do you work with it?
05:21Do you work with it?
05:29Do you work with it?
05:33Do you work with it?
05:47Yeah.
05:49Do you work with it?
05:50Do you work with it?
05:50I realized that I could do comedy.
05:55I could at least try.
05:57Because, like Anand has said, what we did, he's actually extracted everything from all of us.
06:06And, it's been a pleasure, because I explored this comedy side of me, which I didn't know existed.
06:13Or, I could even try doing it.
06:15So, it was a very good thing for me, that I was watching you as an actor, while shooting this
06:22show.
06:23So, and I think with Hats Off, it was like homecoming.
06:28Because, I had made my first show as a lead, Hats Off, and JD sir, I still remember, I think
06:3413-14 years back, I was a kid.
06:38And, he actually, you know, guided me with everything.
06:41How to speak, how to stay, while trials also, I was so nervous.
06:47And, it was just so precious, because he called me, and when he called me, Hilly, you are going.
06:55It was, I think, Navratri, I was ready for Garba, and I was going to go play Garba.
07:00I was so happy.
07:02I almost cried, and my mom came inside, and she was like, what?
07:05I cried.
07:07I cried.
07:08This was last year?
07:09This was last year.
07:10Yes.
07:10Yes.
07:12And, I think it was a very, very special moment.
07:16Okay.
07:17And then for you, like this is a request from an entire generation of mine, that we miss you, watching
07:23all our screens.
07:23Why are you so picky, and so choosy, with regards to the work that you picked?
07:28Are you?
07:29Oh, not really.
07:30I mean, you know, I think it's just, I guess we are in that phase right now, where there are
07:40too many people.
07:42Too many people, and too much happening.
07:44When we were in the 90's, yes, everyone was watching Yes Boss.
07:50So, that's what I remember.
07:51You know, when Kalona Ho came, people don't know that I have done so many films after Kalona Ho.
07:56But, it's just a joke.
07:58You don't forget the characters.
07:59You don't know.
08:00You don't know.
08:01Although, my show was still doing last year.
08:05So, you know, you do a lot of things like this, but because there's so much happening, maybe, you know,
08:11you just miss it sometimes, or whatever.
08:13But, yes, like Anand said, and like Arjun said, even I've manifested actually working on Netflix.
08:19So, in the OTT space, this is my first show.
08:24And I just feel after Gulshan, Tarapurwala, and all of us, and Chumbak, I think this is going to be
08:30my second innings.
08:33So, it will be good.
08:35So, you have asked the question.
08:37Also, very consciously, I will tell you that these Parsi characters,
08:44there are characters, right?
08:46They can show caricatures in films.
08:49Okay?
08:50Mazaak, udana, you know,
08:52a girl came out and came out and came out and came out and came out.
08:55We have seen that traditional outfit.
08:57We are not in real life.
09:00So, I have consciously,
09:02in the industry,
09:04I have tried to play that Parsi character.
09:08One show was in the house number 43,
09:11which was,
09:11like, you know, like a talk show,
09:15a sitcom and everything.
09:17But,
09:17after that,
09:18I have never played Parsi.
09:20It was that conscious effort,
09:22that decision.
09:23And when Atish called again,
09:25I said,
09:25Atish,
09:26you think I'll be able to, you know,
09:28speak that kind of Hindi.
09:30And he said,
09:31it will happen.
09:31And I said,
09:32Atish, will it look?
09:33He said, just trust me.
09:35You know,
09:36you will do it.
09:37And it will happen.
09:38No problem.
09:39You will have.
09:40So,
09:41I guess,
09:42yeah,
09:42thank you.
09:43Thank you, Arjun.
09:44And I've got,
09:45I've got,
09:46I've got,
09:47I've got,
10:01I've got,
10:02a deep impact on the minds of the audience.
10:03Do you see that,
10:04that as a good thing?
10:05Or something negative?
10:06Because it,
10:06kind of clouds your other performances as well.
10:08I see it as a good thing.
10:10I'm eating.
10:11I'm eating sweet,
10:12you know.
10:14So,
10:14I see it as a very,
10:15see,
10:16so many people,
10:17so many channels,
10:19so many platforms,
10:20you know,
10:21one,
10:23you know,
10:24you know,
10:24one image,
10:25you know,
10:25one image,
10:26you know,
10:26one image,
10:28you know,
10:30you know,
10:30it's like a comedy.
10:32It's okay,
10:33right?
10:34At least,
10:35you're going to get into it.
10:36You're going to get into it.
10:37You're going to get into the film.
10:38The comedy is coming,
10:40the Delna's name is coming.
10:42So,
10:43that's a good thing.
10:44I feel that as an actor,
10:45you need to explore now.
10:47But,
10:48it's also necessary that,
10:49ok,
10:49people have liked you,
10:51your audience has liked you.
10:53So,
10:54it's not bad.
10:55I feel.
10:57And my next question is for you.
11:09I mean see at the end of the day I feel acting is acting you need good actors around you
11:15because it's also based on their reactions to your acting so when you have such amazing
11:21veterans when you have such amazing people around you I think you automatically just
11:25level up or at least you push yourself to level up comedy is something I've always
11:29wanted to do and I'm really glad I got a chance to do it and also to do it in
11:34my culture because
11:35like I said I mean I'm Parsi I'm full Parsi and it's so nice to represent that because
11:39there are very few characters like this that come and I remember Atish came and he said
11:44he's like you are my hotoxi and when he narrated everything to me I was like okay I really relate
11:49to this character because it's just so much fun and I think the set also we were together
11:54for three months it's not easy to be around so many people all the time and that too shooting
11:59in Meera road which is very far I mean I think we just really enjoyed spending time together
12:13it was very far but like you know you just as long as the mahal is fun I think you
12:19can
12:20create anything because like I told Atish this also at the end of our schedule that at the
12:25end of the day you would want to wake up every day and come to set and I think that's
12:29a beautiful
12:29thing yeah and my last question is for Anand working in a show which is primarily you know
12:36talks about Parsi family now India and Iran they have historical friendship you know we did
12:40at least 10,000 years of friendship what was it like for exploring you this culture the way
12:47people interact with each other through this culture or any cultural nuances that you have
12:59it was all in the writings it was a historical facts technique you know I think Parsi is as
13:05Indian as it could be you know why are we still after so many years thinking that it's a it's
13:11a community okay get done with your superiority complex though I think yeah I see I see so like
13:21I don't see it any difference like I'm sure culturally I think they're all we all come from a different
13:26cultural background but I think for me the thing that I learned was uh was I was the was this
13:33love
13:34for food which was which was there on set which were which I think culturally we all can agree
13:43so you all can agree with the commonality was food we all love food exactly I mean yeah it's a
13:51Gujarati food and so the only thing besides the script we were talking was food and besides that I
13:59think for an actor playing these various characters that are coming from various cultural background
14:06that's a that's a blessing to have and if your maker can trust you for that it's a win-win
14:11so I
14:12really enjoyed that and I but but I definitely don't see it happened for you know so many years
14:20ago centuries ago but I think now we're all we're Indians okay go back
14:32so on that note thank you so much if there's anything that you may have was asking or something
14:38that you would have you're welcome that's all
14:43thank you so much thank you so much
