The series features a host of fantastic multitalented artists who will battle n the murky dark lanes of deceit all for the ultimate throne.
The gripping trailer of the much-awaited political drama Tandav, sent the internet blazing into excitement for the upcoming Amazon Original series.
Set in the power corridors of the capital city of the largest democracy, the fictional story of Tandav is created and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, produced by Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Ali Abbas Zafar and written by Gaurav Solanki.
The series will take the audience through the chaotic lanes of Indian politics and features a host of fantastic multitalented artists who will battle in the murky dark lanes of deceit, manipulation, greed, ambition and violence, all for the ultimate throne!
From Saif Ali Khan Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kumud Mishra to Dino Morea, Sandhya Mridul among others, here’s a look at the dynamic world of Tandav and its many nuanced characters.
1. Saif Ali Khan as Samar
Playing the conniving Chanakya like a character who is also fierce, radical and authoritative; Saif Ali Khan as Samar is the blue-blooded crown prince. Samar’s enigma is unmissable when he gets on the mic and draws a huge crowd given his zeal, energy and youth appeal.
Actor Saif Ali Khan on Monday said his upcoming political drama series “Tandav” delves into the psyche of people caught in the greed for power. Created and directed by filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, the nine-part political drama features an ensemble cast headlined by Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kumud Mishra, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub among others.
Khan said the show would have been equally impactful with a theme other than politics as it speaks about the Indian society in general.
“This is primarily for me a show about people and pressure. What happens to ambitious people when you give them goals they really want? It”s a complete cross section of Indian society. It didn”t really have to be on politics. It could”ve been on something else.
“But we are a political nation and we like discussing it, so it”s a really good idea for a show. This is a fantasy show, a fiction. It”s dressed up and has influences from all over the place,” Khan said at the virtual press conference for the launch of the show”s trailer.
Set in Delhi, “Tandav” aims to take viewers inside the closed, chaotic corridors of power and uncover the manipulations, charades as well as the dark secrets of people who will go to any lengths in pursuit of power.
The Amazon Prime Video series marks the digital debut of Kapadia.
The 63-year-old actor quipped that she is now “flavour of the season”, thanks to her Hollywood debut with filmmaker Christopher Nolan”s “Tenet”.
Kapadia said she was instantly drawn to the fascinating story of “Tandav” and its rich ensemble cast.
“To get an opportunity to work with Ali Abbas Zafar was a major draw for me. My character is well etched and I thought it was interesting and a lot of fun. Web gives you more screentime, so your character can be developed a lot more. It”s great to be in this space,” she added.
The series also marks the digital debut of Zafar, known for directing blockbusters such as “Tiger Zinda Hai”, “Bharat” and “Sultan”
The filmmaker said he initially wanted to make “Tandav” as a film but soon realised that only long format would justify the material they had.
Two weeks after the release of his blockbuster Salman Khan starrer “Sultan” in 2016, Zafar met Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals at Amazon Prime Video to pitch the show.
“We kept going back and forth. ”Tiger Zinda Hai” happened, then ”Bharat” released and the show kept getting pushed. But post ”Bharat” I realised I had to jump into it. That”s how the journey started,” he added.
Purohit said the show fit perfectly in the streaming platform”s catalogue stories from the Indian soil.
“We were riveted when Ali narrated us the story. We felt the story was like a peek into the world that we read about in newspapers, see on TV but know little about. It was an easy decision to make. We are incredibly proud of the show and the journey it has had.”
Writer Gaurav Solanki, known for penning Anubhav Sinha”s acclaimed “Article 15″, said he lived with the show”s characters for 18-20 months, which helped him capture their complexities and ambitions.
“The show is about power and why people need so much of it, what happens to that young idealism when you face the real world with all its beauty and ugliness. I got to explore several characters and their shades through the show,” he said.
Produced by Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Zafar, “Tandav” also stars Dino Morea, Sunil Grover, Gauahar Khan, Amyra Dastur, Kritika Kamra, Sarah Jane Dias, Sandhya Mridul, Anup Soni, Hitten Tejwani, Paresh Pahuja and Shonali Nagrani, among others.
When was Saif Ali Khan’s last solo success? Almost six years ago with home production Cocktail, a youth-oriented niche product that made a slim profit. Saif co-produced in 2012. When was the 10th Nawab of Pataudi’s last hit? Five years ago, ladies and gentlemen, in Race 2!
Yes, in 2013, he also co-produced and acted in the “zombie comedy” Go Goa Gone, which has now become a cult movie. In those days, the not-inexpensive film just broke even along with its worldwide earnings. In any case, its urban and urbane sophistication and even the humour clearly indicated a multiplex movie that was superlative. Like (very rare) offbeat movies, it deserved to be made on a judicious budget just for what it is. But every offbeat day is not Sunday!
The scenario since has been terrible. Saif has always balanced his assignments between solo leads and ensemble films, between commercial and midstream movies, but since then, it has been an alarming trajectory of flops or usually disasters (the degree of failure being much more).
The world is indeed a very small place and our film industry is even smaller. Time and again, we are pitted against people whom we otherwise work with. Well, that’s just how it is and the latest duo to go head-to-head is Saif Ali Khan and Tigmanshu Dhulia. How so?
Well, back in 2013, Khan had donned a new avatar for Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Bullett Raja but the result of this collaboration was not as fruitful as the duo and the trade had hoped. Fast forward four years, to 2017, when Khan’s next Chef will clash with Dhulia’s Yaara on October 6.
It will be interesting to see these two pitted against each other.
Saif Ali Khan is currently biding his time like a bull in a bear market. This was a given after two of his big budget films— Tigmanshu Dhulia’s action drama Bullett Raja and Sajid Khan’s slapstick comedy Humshakals—crashed at the box-office, leaving him high-and-dry as a film star in an increasingly competitive industry. However, Saif shows no hint of jittery nerves, neither is he afraid of being written off. Perhaps, this is the effect of having struggled as an actor for a long time and having been written off many times. “As long you are enjoying the kind of work you do, it is all good,” he says.
Khan is at Mehboob Studios in Bandra, a popular haunt of Bollywood actors for interviews and film promotions. He has arrived in his sleek red Audi, and the vehicle is making more heads turn than his presence is. He smiles as people gather around his car to admire it. He exchanges hellos with his erstwhile business partner Dinesh Vijan and gets into his vanity van, which is also painted a bright red hue. Red, then, seems a favourite with the Nawab of Pataudi. Or it could be wife Kareena Kapoor’s choice.
He starts rehearsing his lines for a television show as part of a promotional appearance for his just-released film Happy Ending. Unlike many actors, who don’t enjoy the film marketing drill, Saif Ali Khan is taking it in his stride. He is in an upbeat mood, making conversation with almost everyone who approaches him. After his round of official meetings, he invites me inside the van for the interview. His upbringing is immediately evident. He apologises for making me wait outside, stands up to greet me, and sits down only after I have taken my seat. He is very much the person one wishes most famous people would be: unrehearsed, and well-mannered.
Ahead of his upcoming release Happy Ending, Saif Ali Khan talks about acting in a romantic comedy for guys, the importance of a good script and how he hardly watches Hindi films.
What made you act in and produce Happy Ending?
There is something realistic about Raj-DK’s approach to making romcoms. Vulnerability is important, and it’s not always that I get that quality in my roles. If the conflict is that the guy doesn’t want to get married, how do you connect? Even my previous romcoms such as Hum Tum or Salaam Namaste were nice but they had a sort of chick-flick sensibility. Happy Ending is a romcom for guys. It’s more me.
You played a zombie-hunter in Go Goa Gone, and here your character has an alter ego. Tell us more about it.
I play a lazy bum writer living in Los Angeles. He’s run out of money and has been roped in to write a script for Govinda whom he can’t seem to click with, because they are from different planets. He has an alter ego, which was fun to play, because they seem like two people talking. This is a romcom about romcoms. He doesn’t know how to write a romcom but his life runs parallel to it. Apart from Raj-DK, you have worked with filmmakers such as Tigmanshu Dhulia and Sriram Raghavan but those films didn’t work.
Kurbaan Releasing 27th Nov 2009
Starring Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza, Kirron Kher, Om Puri
Produced by Dharma Productions
Directed by Rensil D'Silva
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