Creator duo Arjun and Kartk decode the success story of Sushmita Sen-starrer ‘Taali’

On August 15, 2023, creators Arjun and Kartk unveiled their ambitious biographical drama, ‘Taali: Bajaungi Nahi, Bajwaungi’ on JioCinema. The six-part series, powered by the electrifying screen presence of Sushmita Sen, who essayed the role of transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant, struck an instant chord with viewers and has now become the most watched series in India with over 2.5 core viewers in the past two weeks. The series streams on JioCinema.

Directed by Ravi Jadhav and penned by Kshitij Patwardhan, the show also stars Aishwarya Narkar, Hemangi Kavi, Krutika Deo and Suvrat Joshi and depicts how the process of gender transition, the struggle to access equal rights and a deep maternal instinct transformed Gauri into a formidable woman, who is as compassionate as she is powerful.

In conversation with Adgully, Arjun and Kartk speak at length about how ‘Taali’ became the most watched original web-series, the making of Taali as a web-series and not film, upcoming projects, and much more…

‘Taali’ garnered 25 Million views becoming India’s highest watched original web-series. How do you feel about the love and affection ‘Taali’ is receiving from the audience?

The feeling is truly amazing and we are overwhelmed and genuinely grateful to the audience for such a wonderful reception. ‘Taali’ was our honest attempt to bring out the story of Shreegauri Sawant, the founder member of ‘Sakhi Char Chowghi’, which helps transgender people. This success proves that her inspiring fight for an inclusive world reached so many people.

What was your reason to make ‘Taali’ as a web series for the OTT platform and not as a film?

Both OTT and films have their own audiences. Additionally, both will continue to co-exist as they serve different purposes. We firmly believe that the grandeur and magic of Gauri Sawant’s real-life story should not be confined to just two-odd hours. Time constraints should not limit the magnificence and enchantment of her journey from Ganesh to Gauri, and then her awe-inspiring fight for rights for transgender people. Therefore, it was created as a web series.

How do you work on a project as a team? How do your individual strengths and creative styles complement each other and come together to give amazing results like ‘Taali’?

It has been more than a decade since we began working together. We synchronise well and are attuned to our respective working styles. One of us has a passion for the creative side and possesses the ability for discovering innovative themes and creative storytelling, while the other has strong business acumen and organisational skills. These contrasting characteristics have fortunately complemented our working style effectively. Mutual respect and clear communication between us have helped maintain the perfect balance that assists us in identifying artistic excellence and commercial viability.

From Miss Universe to ‘Taali’, we have seen the remarkable transformation of Sushmita Sen. How did you pull that off?

We still remember how everyone on the set of ‘Taali’ was astonished by Sushmita’s transformation into Gauri. She was our top choice for the role. Sushmita underwent extensive physical and mental preparation for the character and delved deeply into every aspect, including costumes, make-up, prosthetics, body language, weight gain, and pronunciation. We were also deeply grateful for her professionalism, punctuality, and dedication to her craft.

What challenges did you face while shooting ‘Taali’, and how did you overcome them?

The primary challenge lay in the ‘issue’ we intended to address. The topic itself is considered sensitive by many. We needed to present this subject matter gracefully and pleasantly to the audience, without diluting the strong message. We are delighted that we overcame that hurdle with finesse, and ‘Taali’ is now available worldwide and is being appreciated for its thematic strength.

Are there any upcoming projects or goals that you’re excited about tackling together as a producer duo?

We have some exciting projects in the pipeline. We have recently acquired the rights for a biopic and are already gearing up to commence the preliminary work for it. Please stay tuned for the official announcement.

Film Box Office results are quite visible through the Box Office collections, please throw some light on OTT collections and viewership.

OTT is viewer-driven and watch time of individual shows. The barometer and research is done by agencies like Ormax/ Film Companion, and as per them, ‘Taali’ has been one of the top 5 viewed shows.