Arshad Warsi says his cybercrime thriller Pritam & Pedro should be made compulsory in schools: 'Internet is eating our children'

Arshad Warsi’s Pritam & Pedro is a cybercrime thriller on child safety co-starring Vir Hirani. It blends heart with a dark look at online threats. Essential viewing for families.

Arshad Warsi/Instagram

Arshad Warsi has shared comprehensive details regarding his next major project, an OTT series titled Pritam & Pedro. The actor discussed the social urgency of the plot, his experience working with Vir Hirani, the son of Rajkumar Hirani, and the production's conceptual profundity in a lengthy interview with The Lallantop. This series is a watershed point in Warsi's career because it is the first time he has worked with the Hirani family in a digital capacity.

Full-circle moment

Pritam & Pedro features Vir Hirani's acting debut, which is one of its most notable features. Warsi brought up the fact that he and the young actor have worked together for over twenty years, beginning on the set of the 2003 film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. The closing segment of that film featured a brief appearance by Vir as a child.

Warshi reflected on his role as a kid actor turning lead co-star, saying, "His first shot in the film was with me, and his first acting is again with me." He spoke about how he is happy to have been a part of Vir's official industry debut, saying that the project is an extension of the long-standing creative relationship he has had with the Hirani family.

ALSO READ: Arshad Warsi reunites with Munna Bhai director Rajkumar Hirani in his OTT debut - Here's very well know so far

Signature Hirani touch

Despite the series' billing as a thriller, Warsi has been careful to note that it retains the poignancy that has been a signature of Rajkumar Hirani's work. In spite of all the mystery, the show stays true to its roots in human connections and the importance of emotional warmth.

Warsi described the atmosphere of the series, stating, "It is Raju's space. It’s got a heart, it’s got a soul, it’s got tears, it’s got that warmth, relationships... but it deals with a darker part of the web and how the web world is eating up the children." The series will tackle weighty modern topics, but it will do it with an approachable and relatable perspective, according to this balance.

Addressing modern cybercrimes

An examination of ways in which young people in today's society are vulnerable to online predators is at the heart of the Pritam & Pedro dispute. Warsi said the show delves into the "darker side of the web," drawing attention to cybercrimes and other harmful internet threats that have impacted youngsters around the world recently.

A prominent internet phenomenon linked to self-harm and manipulation, the actor brought up the "Blue Whale Challenge" in particular. Warsi stressed the seriousness of the subjects, saying that the show is as much an educational tool as an entertainment one.

Crucial narratives for families

Warsi eloquently discussed the series' importance for families. According to him, the story's contents are crucial for dealing with contemporary cyber threats.

Concerning the show's possible influence, Warsi stated, "I want—meaning I would want that—every child should see this, every parent should see this... every school should show this film... it should be made compulsory." He made a comparison between the project's importance and films that explore the difficulties of adolescence, saying that the depiction of a youngster being "misled by these people who are computer geeks" is an important discussion to have in this day and age.

2026 timeline

The post-production phase of the series is now underway. Warsi gave a rough schedule for when the project will debut, although streaming companies usually don't reveal actual premiere dates until right before launch. According to his statement, the series is set to be released in 2026.

He stated that the show will premiere "next year... after the IPL." Major studios frequently use this launch window, which follows the Indian Premier League, as a strategy to take advantage of the summer's high audience periods.

Arshad Warsi's expanding OTT footprint

Pritam & Pedro is Warsi's second digital series, following the critically acclaimed Asur which catapulted him to the forefront of the psychological thriller subgenre.

Pritam & Pedro FAQs:

Q: Who is Vir Hirani in Pritam & Pedro?

A: Vir Hirani is the son of acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani. In Pritam & Pedro, he makes his digital acting debut as Pritam, a young, tech-savvy police officer.

Q: When is the Pritam & Pedro release date?

A: While an exact date has not been announced by the streaming platform, Arshad Warsi has indicated that Pritam & Pedro is slated for release in 2026

Q: Who is the director of Pritam & Pedro?

A: The series is produced and showrun by Rajkumar Hirani. The directorial responsibilities are handled by Amir Satyaveer Singh (Hirani's longtime assistant director) and National Award-winning filmmaker Avinash Arun, known for his work on Paatal Lok.

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