‘Paatal Lok Is Sacred To Me’

‘I
was
feeding
off
the
bond
that
Ansari
and
Hathiram
had
formed
during
season
one.’

Ishwak
Singh
is
very
proud
of
his
latest
show,
the
second
season
of

Paatal
Lok.

“Paatal
Lok
Season
2
is
great
on
its
own.
Only
a
masterful
writer
like
Sudip
Sharma
could
have
devised
a
roadmap
like
this,”
Ishwak
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

A
lot
has
changed
in
your
career
since
the
first

Paatal
Lok
streamed
its
way
into
renown.
How
do
you
look
at
the
journey
from
Season
1
to
Season
2?

Life’s
come
a
full
circle.

In
the
show,
my
character
has
assumed
a
position
of
power
and
as
an
actor,
I’ve
achieved
a
certain
status
which
almost
feels
too
good
to
be
true.

There’s
a
common
thread
connecting
the
life
of
my
character
Ansari
and
how
I’ve
navigating
my
path
in
the
film
industry.
The
show
is
a
test
for
both
of
us.

Paatal
Lok
Season
2
is
great
on
its
own.
It
also
happens
to
be
an
excellent
season
2.

Only
a
masterful
writer
like
Sudip
Sharma
could
have
devised
a
roadmap
like
this.

He’s
maintained
the
essence
of
the
first
season
and
at
the
same
time,
raised
the
bar
to
another
level.

I’m
so
fortunate
to
be
a
part
of

Paatal
Lok
and
this
team.

What
was
it
like
to
be
reunited
with
the

Pataal
Lok
cast?

Jaideep
Ahlawat
and
I
have
a
great
camaraderie.
We’ve
been
looking
out
for
each
other
from
the
first
scene
of
season
one
and
ended
it
on
the
same
note.

When
I
got
to
the
set
after
three
years,
all
those
memories
came
back
with
a
barrage
of
emotions
and
things
just
started
falling
in
place.

I
was
feeding
off
the
bond
that
Ansari
and
Hathiram
had
formed
during
season
one.

Where
do
you
place
this
series
in
your
impressive
repertoire?

Right
on
top.

Paatal
Lok
is
sacred
to
me
for
multiple
reasons.
I’ll
always
cherish
every
minute
spent
on
this
show.

At
this
juncture
of
your
career,
what
do
you
seek
in
your
projects?

It
always
starts
with
solid
writing,
a
good
story
with
a
relevant
theme.

It’s
great
if
the
central
idea
is
absolutely
untouched
like

Rocket
Boys.
With
that,
half
the
battle
is
won.

The
director’s
vision
is
very
important
and
of
course,
a
producer
who
backs
up
the
project
wholeheartedly.

What
can
we
expect
from
you
this
year?

I
recently
did
a
film
with
the
Bhatts
(Mahesh
Bhatt
and
Vikram
Bhatt)
called

Tumko
Meri
Kasam.
It’s
a
beautiful
genre
bender:
Romance,
drama
with
a
beautiful
central
idea.

I’ve
always
wanted
to
work
with
the
Bhatts,
they
are
one
of
the
few
masters
of
the
game,
who
have
constantly
reinvented
themselves
and
come
back
stronger
decade
after
decade.

Anupam
Kher,
Adah
Sharma
and
Esha
Deol
are
in
the
movie.

I
have
also
did
a
one-of-a-kind
show
which
is
on
a
subject
that
will
have
resonance
across
the
length
and
breadth
of
the
country.

A
very
sensitive
story
about
an
industry
that’s
the
backbone
of
our
country.

Both
the
film
and
the
show
should
release
this
year.

Then,
there’s
a
Maddock
film
with
Vaani
Kapoor
that
I
shot
a
while
back
which
should
release
soon.

Currently,
I’m
shooting
for
a
film
with
Taapsee
Pannu.

After
this,
I’ll
be
shooting
for
season
two
of
one
of
my
shows
and
a
very
powerful
film
with
an
OG
director.