Shriya Saran reveals how she grounded her role in Space Gen: Chandrayaan - 'Used the hook of a working mom' | Exclusive

Shriya Saran stars in Space Gen: Chandrayaan portraying a scientist's resilience. The series explores ISRO’s sacrifices, the "mature silence" of failure, and the drive to succeed against all odds.

Shriya Saran in a still from Space Gen: Chandrayaan

Shriya Saran embarks on one of her most emotionally challenging roles to date in the JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) series, Space Gen: Chandrayaan set in an era where India's space ambitions have captured the global imagination. Portraying a scientist at the heart of a mission that balanced the pinnacle of human ingenuity with the crushing weight of public setback, Saran delivers a performance that is as much about the silence of the control room as it is about the resilience of the human spirit. In this exclusive conversation with OTTplay, the actor dives deep into the "mature silence" of the ISRO team, the personal sacrifices made behind the scenes during the pandemic, and how channelling the discipline of a "working mom" helped her ground a character that was larger than any single dream.

How does Shriya Saran view the dedication of the ISRO scientists?

Portraying a scientist during the mission's most gruelling moments, Saran reflected on the dedication of the ISRO team. "These are some of the finest minds of this country who chose not to have the best job they could get but actually work for the country. This is all their life’s work that didn’t work in one way but also worked because when you try, you learn so much."

Saran noted that while the world was questioning the country and the scientists, asking if such a mission was necessary, the show aims to explain the "why" behind it. "Somewhere through the show, we’ve tried to explain why we needed to do this, what the sacrifices these scientists have made are, what it meant to them and what it means to the greater good of humanity. You realise that failure is really hard, but how do we get up and do it all over again?"

ALSO READ: Nakuul Mehta on Space Gen: Chandrayaan - 'I think I was ignorant; didn’t understand the gravity of the work ISRO scientists do' | Exclusive

What internal struggles did Shriya Saran channel to portray the experience of failure?

Recalling the intensity of filming the scenes where the scientists face scrutiny, Saran shared the internal dialogue of her character. "I was thinking about what it’s like when something really important happens and your entire life flashes in front of you. As a scientist, you’re holding top-secret information, and you’ve done things larger than anybody else’s dream. This is larger than your dream right now, and it didn’t work. All your moments as to why you’re questioning, 'Why am I even here?' and 'What went wrong?' flash in front of you. The way you deal with failure is what makes you get up and come towards success." She believes the series serves as a lesson for everyone, regardless of whether they are space fans, on how to "get up and go ahead and do it all over again."

The actor was particularly surprised by the level of personal sacrifice the scientists endured, especially during the pandemic. Comparing her own experience to theirs, she remarked, "I had no idea that while we were battling and while I was so engrossed in my own sadness—I was pregnant and delivered a child during COVID-19, and Nakuul (Mehta) had a child at that point—we felt our problems were the biggest. Then you realise these guys are not just battling for their lives; they’re helping others, and while doing that, they have a mission that they have to complete. My respect for them grew a thousandfold."

What "hooks" and inspirations did Shriya Saran use to build her character?

To bring the character to life, Saran balanced real-world inspiration with her experiences. "I used the perspective of a working mom because that gave me a good hook. I saw a lot of interviews and then tried to have the body language of a mom I remember from school. There’s a lot of seriousness and discipline; she was always compassionate and helpful." She described her process as one that often begins with "panic attacks" until "magic happens" on set. "Suddenly you feel like there’s some connection, and it just happened."

Reflecting on the mission's outcome, Saran was struck by the "mature silence" of the real-life team. "There was silence; such mature silence, like, ‘Okay, we know this didn’t work; we’ll figure it out. We’ll do something.’" She noted that this spirit of teamwork was mirrored behind the camera as well, calling the collaboration on the series "very beautiful".

Where can you watch Space Gen: Chandrayaan?

All episodes of Space Gen: Chandrayaan are now streaming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium).

Space Gen: Chandrayaan FAQs:

Q: Is Space Gen: Chandrayaan based on a true story?

A: Yes, Space Gen: Chandrayaan is inspired by the real-life events of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It specifically dramatizes the period between the technical setback of the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019 and the historic success of Chandrayaan-3's landing at the lunar south pole.

Q: Where can I watch Space Gen: Chandrayaan?

A: Space Gen: Chandrayaan is currently streaming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium).

Q: Who does Shriya Saran play in Space Gen: Chandrayaan?

A: In Space Gen: Chandrayaan Shriya Saran portrays a lead scientist (Project Director Yamini Mudaliar) at ISRO.

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