Black White & Gray: Love Kills Exclusive - Mayur More, Palak Jaiswal, Deven Bhojani talk pranks, mutual respect and season 2

Black White & Gray: Love Kills had left many intrigued with just the trailer. The roles played by Mayur More, Palak Jaiswal and Deven Bhojani did speak volumes, but there was a lot more that went on while shooting the series. The actors who set sail and had fun braving through the challenges on sets every single day spoke to OTTplay about pranks, mutual respect and everything in between. They also left a major hint about Black White & Gray: Love Kills season 2.

Excerpts from the interview…

Palak, what are the reactions you have received for the series so far?

The reactions are fantastic. Everybody is curious to know what will happen next. I am constantly bombarded with questions that would be giving away spoilers of the series. My family, especially my father, is also curious. He also scolds me for not giving out spoilers. But I'm holding onto the suspense.

You are comparatively newer to the industry, so what challenges would you say you faced while shooting for Love Kills?

When the team is so creative, you feel one unit. At no point did I feel something was very challenging, except shooting in extreme cold. Even that was fun though because I was shivering and had to play a dead body.

Which is the one tip you received from either Mayur More, Deven Bhojani or Tigmanshu Dhulia that you would remember for life?

I didn't get a lot of time with the senior actors and didn't want to disturb them otherwise. Their presence only talks so much, especially with Tigmanshu sir. Everybody on sets knew when he was around and we would all be disciplined around him. I learned bringing that discipline into my personality. I would think that I would work with Deven sir at some point, and finally life came to a full circle.

If you have to pick your favourite moment from Love Kills, which would it be and why?

When my character gets out of the car booth and everything that follows. When me and Mayur run away from the hotel, and the end scene especially was very challenging. I got hurt while trying to protect my person, so it was quite a fun and challenging scene to shoot. Overall, every day was such a great day on set. As an actor, it was so creatively fulfilling. The character is a mind and matter of her own. She doesn't get influenced by anyone. The character is very wonderful.

Deven ji, you come from the time when theatres were the ultimate medium to bring strangers together under a roof, enjoying cinema, to now OTT taking over and content being more personalized to needs. How do you personally view this change?

I love to go with the flow and believe change is the only constant. I should be relevant at all times, and I enjoy doing that. I explore different cultures within and outside of India so even if some things of course remain old-school, I'm constantly looking at different kinds of entertainment. My main idea is being part of things that are entertaining enough. I'm open to theatre, TV, films or OTT, but the content needs to entertain.

Generation gap aside, acting with the younger lot who have a different style of thinking and working could get challenging but also be fun. What would you say your experience on Love Kills set was like?

It was super fun. We shot in Nagpur, Rishikesh and more. We would go out for dinner and create a bond. While I know Palak Jaiswal thanks to my niece, I met Mayur More for the first time and started liking him instantly because of his great sense of humour. He's a little mischievous, but showered me with respect knowing I'm their senior.

Mayur, you once said that Crime Patrol gave you an identity as an actor. That very show is now out on OTT, and Love Kills also looks like something right out of a Crime Patrol episode. So, would you call it homecoming?

Not really. It is not what we're thinking (this is not Crime Patrol), but yes, it is a crime-thriller. But it is completely different. The approach towards this show is new and refreshing. It was lots of fun. The fresh energy needed for Love Kills was on-point. I found it through Pushkar ji, who met me on highway to narrate the series. His intentions were very clear and pure, and I found myself bonding with him over many things as time passed. The biggest among them was music. He was a music director who realised he isn't that great in the profession and quit it to pursue what his calling really is. Such people, being so clear about yourself, inspire me. His sense of humour is also so good, it makes me laugh even now.

Do you have any memory from the show that made you feel wow, what a moment?

When we were shooting in Nagpur, it was really hot. Our director also loves shooting in Summers and hates Winters. The initial plan was to shoot in May-April. We were shooting in a forest and I got excited thinking I would see a tiger but nothing of the sort happened. Me and Palak Jaiswal planned to prank the crew by playing the sound of the tiger. Half of the people ran and the others were in shock. Seeing them, I started laughing. However, that was the only time we pranked them because it can get risky.

If you have to convince someone why they should watch Love Kills in brief, how would you?

Mayur: Honestly, it felt good hearing people on sets say 'Kya treatment hai yeh show ka, aisa kuch dekha nahi hai.' All I can say is, 'You are going to pull your seat throughout the show.' Watch real content, you'll love it!

Palak: It holds a lot of suspense and is very thrilling. Every episode begins in a certain way and by the time it comes to an end, the story completely changes and then you would want to sit and watch more until you find a conclusion. Just when it starts making sense, you get mind-blown. I was instructed to read the script only once. I thank my stars to get to work on something like this.

Palak, the way you are speaking, it feels like there would be a season 2 of the series...

(Laughs) Definitely, 100 percent.