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First Post
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Amit Sial on 'The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case': 'It's an important series for the Gen-Z because...'
In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actor spoke about his prep for the show, his character read more It's hard to make political thrillers without taking sides. But what if a filmmaker decides to essay the aftermath of a tragedy that shook the nation? Filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor and Applause Entertainment's The Hunt is one such show that chronicles what happened after how it happened. Amit Sial, who plays D.R. Kaarthikeyan (IGP CRPF), offers a remarkable and restrained performance. He's fresh off the success of Raid 2. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actor spoke about his prep for the show, his character. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Edited excerpts from the interview How did you prepare for this role? Luckily, there was enough material online, to sort of go through, to get the demeanour, his personality, the way he thinks, the way he talks. All of those things are right. And there's this one specific interview where he's talking about his line of work and the services that he's provided, as an IPS officer and the services he provided while investigating for this particular case. He was a chameleon, so he mostly would converse in English or Tamil. But because you're making a Hindi show, so then to just make it look a little authentic, I had to sort of attach a slight twang to my Hindi because I have a very specific North Indian Hindi, dialect diction. And, so all of these things are just a regular preparation that goes into playing a character, plus the added responsibility of being being very particular about playing a character game because he's a real life person, and it's a real life incident. And then, obviously, I had an amazing help from my director, Nagesh Kukunoor. And the script also was so tight and detail oriented that a lot of help, came from the script itself. What fascinated you about this particular story, and how much were you aware about this entire incident that happened in 1991? The incident itself, just to be a part of this whole story and the lead investigator and, trying to track the case was in itself, a big eye opener and just a privilege to be a part of, something like this. And, yes, I was very much aware of the incident because I was 16 when it actually happened. And when you're 16, you're mature enough to understand these things. Not not so much in detail, though, as, probably I know now. But, over a period of time, I kept reading about, the involvement of entity and trying to understand both sides and all of that. It's a very important series for especially Gen-Z because a lot of them would probably not know about this incident, and, I hope it's an eye opener for them also. What did you take back from participating in a story that is inspired by true events? I don't know what I would take back. I'm just just to be a part of something like this, it sort of fills you up. It sort of it takes you into places within your own self where you probably have never never ventured before. And I think about the unpredictability of life and the kind of consequences politics might have, on one's life. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Amit Sial reacts to Diljit Dosanjh's ‘Sardaarji 3' controversy: 'If I were in his place, I would not have done this'
's last release, 'Sardaar Ji 3', was one of the highly anticipated movies of 2025. However, instead of getting praise for his work and movie, the film landed him in massive controversy as it featured Pakistani artist Hania Aamir. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amid India-Pak's strained relationship, Hania's part in the movie sparked nationwide debate. Thus, the makers announced that the film will only be released overseas. Yet, both the makers and Diljit faced heavy criticism to the level where reports were doing rounds that Dosanjh might lose his future Bollywood projects and would be banned in India. The internet and the industry were divided; people either supported Diljit or threw shade at him. Amid this, 'The Hunt' actor offered a very natural take on the matter. Amit Sial reacts to Diljit Dosanjh's ' Sardaarji 3 ' controversy Speaking to ETimes exclusively, Amit said, 'These are very personal things. I mean, Diljit is a great artist. If he felt that he was not wrong, then he felt it. And those who felt that he was wrong said that he was wrong. It is between him and his soul and his intelligence.' 'We are not small kids. We don't have to teach people what is right and what is wrong,' he continued. Highlighting that the movie was made before the Pahalgam incident and the emotions involved, Amit further explained, 'He (Diljit Dosanjh) very categorically mentioned that because of the sentiments attached to it, he is not releasing it in India. He is only releasing it overseas. There are a lot of factors. There are producers, and people's money is involved, and so is their hard work. The film was made before the incident. You cannot see the future.' 'If I were in Diljit's place, I would not have done this,' said Amit Sial Amit also acknowledged that the relationship between India and Pakistan has always been very sensitive, and 'he (Diljit) should have thought about it.' He further stated, 'In my personal opinion, I feel that we do not need foreign actors. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But then, art cannot be restricted by boundaries. If foreign actors work, not just Pakistani but people from different nationalities work in our industry. But yes, this is a sensitive issue with Pakistan. If I were in Diljit's place, I would not have done this.' 'If he thinks he did the right thing, then he must have done the right thing,' concluded the actor. Amit Sial Amit Sial is one of the most renowned and versatile actors we have in the industry. His work in movies like 'Raid 2,' 'Kesari' and more has been highly loved by he audience. Amit's latest work, 'The Hunt', based on the , is currently streaming on OTT. His ability to bring real characters to the reel has always been lauded by the critics and audiences alike, and 'The Hunt' is no exception.
India.com
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Amit Sial breaks silence on comparisons with Ajay Devgn in Raid 2: 'Yeh sab bekar...'
Amit Sial breaks silence on comparisons with Ajay Devgn in Raid 2: 'Yeh sab bekar...' | Exclusive Actor Amit Sial carved a special place in audiences hearts after having performed brilliantly in projects like Mirzapur, Jamtara- Sabka Number Ayega, Kathmandu Connection, Inside Edge to name a few. The actor has been once again applauded for his performance in Ajay Devgn-starrer Raid 2 , for amazingly portraying the character of Lallan Sudheer on the silver screen. Released on May 1, 2025, the film managed to amass Rs 242 crore worldwide, becoming another clean hit Bollywood film of the year. What did Amit Sial say about his performance in Raid 2? Amit Sial's performance appealed strongly to the mainstream audience, with many believing that he overshadowed Ajay Devgn in the crime thriller drama. In an exclusive interaction with , Amit addressed the comparisons with Raid 2's leading man, and said, 'Nahi Yaar yeh sab bekaar ki baatein hai. Koi overshadow nahi vo (Ajay Devgn) apna kaam kar rahe the main apna kaam kar raha tha. Obviously, mera character bahut lighthearted aur funny tha, so maybe it resonated with the audience. But Ajay Devgn was performing his part, and I think he did a splendid job in Raid 2.' Further adding, Sial said he don't believe in the remarks that he overshadowed Ajay Devgn and expressed, 'It's really each to their own. He was doing his part, I was doing my part. So, I don't take these things seriously. I appreciate audiences love and their reactions- but I don't dwell on this.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amit Sial (@ Amit Sial on his 'non-struggling' journey Amit Sial has come a long way in his acting career. He started as a supporting hero in 2006 release Hope and a Little Sugar . Later, he starred in Dibakar Banerjee's 2010 film Love Sex aur Dhokha, further getting recognition and series of roles. Following the success of Inside edge , Amit featured in many Bollywood films and OTT shows, cementing his position as an admired actor in the industry. While asking Amit how he would like to describe his journey, the actor said, 'Magical and it still continues to be so. And I hope it stays the same till I die.' The actor duly mentioned that he doesn't like to call himself a 'struggler' and shared, 'I was never struggling, and I don't like calling it a struggle. Life is difficult and it is supposed to be. Life is full of challenges and obstacles, and one has to rise above them and face whatever it comes. I am in a profession I love doing, so I don't see it struggling.' Meanwhile, Amit Sial recently starred in the show The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, based on the events surrounding the murder of India's former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, followed by the investigation. He portrayed the character of the lead investigator in the case, DR Kaarthikeyan. Based on the journalist Anirudhya Mitra's book Ninety Days, the show is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and bankrolled by Appaluse Entertainment. The Hunt began available for streaming on Sony LIV from July 4, 2025.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Between Truth and Drama: When filmmakers tread the line while telling real stories
In a cinematic landscape increasingly drawn to true events, the question of how much creative liberty is too much is one that filmmakers often grapple with. From retelling political assassinations and hijackings to exploring biopics, storytelling rooted in real-life events must strike a careful balance between staying authentic and keeping the audience engaged. The director's dilemma: Sensitivity over sensationalism Filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor , who has never hesitated from experimenting with his work, recently dipped his toes in the genre of true crime drama. With his latest release - 'The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination ' he has presented a seven-episode long investigative drama based on the murder of an ex-Prime Minister. Highlighting how he managed to strike a balance between creative liberty and authenticity of the story, Nagesh Kukunoor, in an exclusive conversation with us, shared, "A lot of the people of my generation remember it (the assassination) very clearly. So, you want to handle it with the utmost sensitivity and not sensationalize things. " "For me, what is exciting about the project is it never taps into any of the political connections. What it deals with is a pure police procedural, a crime thriller, if you will. And that's what got me excited about the project in the first place. And it's a book, 90 Days, literally, once we chose to adapt it, it plays out like a thriller. And even though people are familiar with it, I guarantee that when you actually see the jaw's going to be on the floor at several points, saying, Oh my God, did that really happen?" The art of dramatization: Writing what wasn't said Shedding light on how drama brings the real on reel, the director added, "Now where we have to take creative liberty is, let's say, I'm giving a random example. Let's say a couple of people met, a decision was taken, and then an event happened. This is what would have been reported by the journalists during that period. Now, if we choose to dramatize that, I'm going to have to write a scene. I'm going to have the characters say certain things. And then I'm going to have it actually play out." "Now, I wasn't there, so how would I know exactly what words were said, right? But in writing the dialogues, and I had two co-writers with me, we made sure that we handled it with as much sensitivity as possible to make sure that we were true to the characters of the people we were portraying. So I would like to think that we did a solid job. We didn't point fingers. We just let the events play out as they did. We handled both sides with equal sensitivity. " The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case Trailer: Amit Sial, Sahil Vaid, Bagavathi Perumal, Danish Iqbal and Girish Sharma Starrer The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case Official Trailer Another noted film personality who weighed in on the subject is Anupam Kher . He has been a part of several movies that are based on real events. We got in touch with him when his 'IB71'was about to hit the big screens. Inspired by true events, 'IB 71' is an espionage thriller set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pak war of 1971. It follows the story of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, who uncovers a sinister plot by Pakistan and China to launch a joint attack on India within ten days. Speaking on the delicate tightrope between truth and cinematic storytelling, Anupam Kher, in context to 'IB71' specifically mentioned, "As far as the incident is concerned, there is not much cinematic liberty taken. But of course, because jab incident hua tha toh background score nahi chalta hai. Yeh film mein background score hai. And thodi-thodi cinematic liberty is taken with any, even when you make biopics. You do make it because it's an experience you want to give to the audience. It's a ten-day film that has to come in about two hours of cinema. But the feel of the film, the incidents of the film, what actually happened, how we sort of conned ISI, and how our agents went there, stayed in a hotel, etc. That is absolutely true." Anupam Kher Interview: IB71, His EXPERIENCE Of 1971 WAR, Vidyut Jammwal & More The grey zone: where liberty becomes a risk There is a limit, however, to how filmmakers can stretch the truth. In legal biopics or political thrillers, dramatization can lead to controversy, defamation cases, or political backlash. Even well-researched films. That's where filmmaker Nagesh's earlier quote becomes relevant - "We handled both sides with equal sensitivity." Audience decoding fact from fiction With the rise of true-crime documentaries and biographical cinema, audiences now bear a responsibility too. The line between truth and creative liberty often blurs unless viewers make the effort to research what was real and what was invented for screen impact.
India.com
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
The Hunt Review: A chilling retelling of India's darkest chapter of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case
The assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, on May 21, 1991, is one of the darkest chapters of Indian history. It all begins in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur, a political rally that later made shockwaves across the nation. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Sriperumbudur, and what followed was an explosion that sent the entire nation into a state of shock and mourning. The Hunt , a 7-episode series on Sony LIV, documents how the SIT (Special Investigation Team) tracks down the mastermind behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. A 90-Day Manhunt Filled with Stress and Suspense The 7-episode series covers 90 days of stressful and tedious hunting and tracking down the mastermind behind Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. A special investigation team led by D.R. Kaarthikeyan, played by the brilliant Amit Sial, will keep you on your toes. His objective is to track down the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, and he gets to choose his brightest and top guns in the field. A Cast That Holds It Together The director of the series, Nagesh Kukunoor, stars a pleasant cast, starring Sahil Vaid as SP Amit Verma, Girish Sharma as DIG Radhavinod Raju, Vidyut Garg as NSG Captain Ravindran, Bhagavathy Perumal as DSP Ragottham, and Danish Iqbal as DIG Amod Kant. The series also stars Shafiq Mustafa, Anjana Balaji, B. Sai Dinesh, Shruti Jayan, and Gauri Menon in key roles. A major strength of The Hunt is its dedication to authenticity. Much of the dialogue is in Tamil, which adds realism and immerses the viewer in the South Indian setting. Nagesh Kukunoor's decision to retain linguistic and cultural nuances helps maintain the integrity of the story. A Strong Start That Loses Pace Talking about the first two episodes, which engage the audience. On the other hand, from episode three, the series starts setting the bar low. As more characters are introduced, it becomes increasingly difficult to follow who's who. The narrative slows down, and the investigative journey begins to feel repetitive, like hitting the fast-forward button through familiar plot points. Moments That Will Leave You Breathless There are instances where you will scratch your head, intense standoffs, and interrogation scenes. The series explores these moral grey areas, particularly where officers use psychological manipulation to extract information from LTTE operatives. These elements are thoughtfully handled and add depth. Restricted Scope for a Broad Subject Amit Sial's role, though impactful, is limited. Apart from that, Sahil Vaid, who plays Amit Verma, plays a brilliant role during the crackdown following Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Though The Hunt is based on real events, the series delves into the darkest chapter of Indian history. It misses an opportunity to delve deeper into the lives of the SIT officers or the broader socio-political context surrounding the LTTE's operations. It chooses to narrow its focus solely on the assassination. A more expansive narrative could have elevated the story from procedural thriller to historical epic. Final Verdict Despite a strong cast and gripping premise, The Hunt struggles to maintain pace and character development. The first few episodes promise intensity, but the later ones struggle to deliver a lasting impact. Still, it's a brave attempt at narrating a crucial moment in Indian history and is worth a watch for those intrigued by true-crime thrillers. Stars: 3.5/5
