'Kartik Aaryan will surprise the world in Dhamaka'

'I have been exceptionally lucky with my actors, whether it was Sushmita in Aarya or Kartik Aaryan in Dhamaka.'

Director Ram Madhvani has many reasons to be happy.

He has completed the shooting for the second season on his thriller Web series Aarya, starring Sushmita Sen, and the series has been nominated in the International Emmy Awards in the Drama Series category.

If that's not enough, Madhvani is excited about his coming film Dhamaka as well, where he promises Kartik Aaryan will surprise the world.

"Sushmita and Kartik went far beyond my expectations," he tells Subhash K Jha.

How hopeful are you of winning the Emmy?

I don't want to sound clichéd, but for me, it is an honour that we are nominated.

We never expected it.

If the series has come this far, I have the Universe and Miss Universe to thank for it.

That's a good line to use.

(Laughs) But seriously, Aarya would not have been possible without Sushmita Sen.

She brought her own personality and her inner strengths into the part and took the character far beyond all expectations.

There is so much to observe and appreciate from Sushmita.

She can converse on any topic under the sun.

She radiates a positivity.

If you go to a restaurant with her, she will connect with everyone there, from the other patrons to the waiters. She will have a conversation with all of them.

Was there a better bonding while shooting the second season of Aarya?

We shot Season 2 through the pandemic.

Her professionalism and innate wisdom made it a lot easier.

We were on this project for 12 years.

Coming back to the Emmys, have you see the other nominees in the Best Drama Series category?

No, I haven't had the time.

I've been shooting for Season 2 and it's now complete.

I was also busy with my feature film Dhamaka, starring Kartik Aaryan, which will stream later this month on Netflix.

But they (the Emmy nominees) are all highly acclaimed series and I intend to see them for my own satisfaction and not to compare with the competition.

How was the Dhamaka experience?

I have been exceptionally lucky with my actors, whether it was Sushmita in Aarya or Kartik Aaryan in Dhamaka.

They were fully involved and committed to the project.

They went far beyond my expectations.

Kartik will surprise the world in Dhamaka.

Now you are going into a series on Udham Singh. Any fear of being compared with Shoojit Sircar's film?

First of all, my series will not be about Udham Singh.

It will be about the Jallianwala Bagh incident.

Secondly, I am a big fan of Shoojit Sircar's work. I intend to see his film as soon as I can.

I am sure what I've to say will be very different from his film.

Is there any genre of cinema you would like to attempt?

A musical. I would love to do a do full-fledged musical with lip-sync songs.