Pill web series is being appreciated a lot these days. Director Rajkumar Gupta's name is associated with this web series. Rajkumar Gupta, originally from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, needs no introduction in the industry. His name is associated with successful films like No One Killed Jessica, Aamir and Raid as well as the National Award. Highlights from a conversation with Urmila Kori on all aspects including this web series and its making

You are considered a realistic filmmaker, how real is Pill's story?

Realistic filmmaker is a very generic term. I try to tell the story in an engaging and entertaining way to the audience by weaving it into the surrounding things. The response to this series so far is very good. People are getting engaged with it and are also feeling entertained, drama and emotion.

Your last film India's Most Wanted was released in 2019, what was the reason for you taking such a long gap?

It is not something that I did after thinking. Covid had come for two years. (laughs) At that time, the thought of whether I will survive was more than what I will become. No creative person wants that his next project gets delayed after one project, but the subject of Pill was very sensitive, so it took three and a half hours to write and make it. Its subject was such that research was needed. This is a web series. Films are of two hours and web series are of five hours, so it also takes time. (laughs) Now I will try not to take much time, but good things take time to be made.

Usually a series has many seasons, but you have finished the story of this series in just 8 episodes?

It is a trend of OTT that a series is given a high point and then left for the new season. I do not agree with this thinking because the kind of films I have been making, every story has a conclusion in it. I had already decided that the question we are asking in the first part, its answer should be found in the second part. We want to give full thrill to the audience. There was no intention to do anything half-hearted.

As you said that this series is based on a very sensitive issue, were there any problems in associating the producer or OTT platform with this show?

I would like to tell you that the producer of this series is Ronnie Screwvala, who has also produced my films Aamir, No One Killed Jessica and Ghanchakkar. We often meet to discuss projects. One day he discussed the idea of ​​the basic story of this series with me. I was also reading a lot on pharma at that time. It appealed to me too. After that I developed it. As soon as Jio Cinema heard our concept, they liked it very much. They said that they will join it and take the story to a logical end. They said that this is a very inspiring story. It should be told. This has been our journey. Our film is not against those who make good medicines. Our series makes people aware of the fake medicines and sub-standard medicines made by pharma companies.

Was Ritesh Deshmukh your first choice for this series?

Ritesh is a fabulous actor. We thought that exploring this subject with him would make it more special. Ritesh has not only done comedy. He has done a great job in Marathi films. After reading the script, he also felt that we can do well together in this.

What was the biggest challenge associated with this series?

I always try to go to the place where the story is set and shoot at the real location. Everyone knows that shooting at a real location is not easy. There are many kinds of difficulties. We have shot at real locations in Delhi and Chandigarh. Since the story was so inspiring, we overcame every difficulty and made the series.

This is your first web series, how different is this world from films?

Its grammar is different. Its pacing is also different. Since this was my first web series, it was a learning process for me as well. There are five hours to tell the story, so you can go into the background of the characters. However, it is not easy to keep the audience engaged for five hours.

How much has the struggle reduced for you now?

I believe that struggle should never end. Struggle is there, that is why you search for different subjects and you have a hunger to do something different. There was struggle when I started my career, then there was a period of struggle in between as well. I have been getting work continuously. Since I came to India, I have been offered many series. No one had appealed to me before the subject of this series.

After the failure of Ghanchakkar, did you limit yourself to the thriller genre?

I am not trying to praise myself, but if you see my filmography, I have experimented with every genre. My film Aamir was a complete thriller. Jessica was a thriller drama. Raid had everything – thriller, humour and drama. In this series, you will also get to see slice of life and drama.

There are reports that you are also making a project with Salman Khan?

My next film will be Raid 2 with Ajay Devgan. Apart from Raid, whatever happens, you will get to know when it happens. This is all I can say for now.

How much connection can you still maintain with Jharkhand?

Jharkhand is my home. My roots are from there, so it is natural to have a connection. My brother and my mother live in Hazaribagh. Many relatives and friends live in Ranchi. This connection has not diminished even after so many years. You can understand this from the fact that I go there every six months. I have homes in both the places, so I go to Hazaribagh as well as Ranchi. I also enjoy the local food there a lot.