Exclusive! Duranga actor Gulshan Devaiah on remake trends: You're really closing all doors for original content to happen

It was back in 2010, when Gulshan Devaiah burst onto the screen with That Girl in Yellow Boots, directed by Anurag Kashyap. Since then, the actor has been a part of several movies, namely Dum Maaro Dum, Shaitan, Hate Story, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Hunterrr, A Death In The Gunj, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota and more, playing unconventional roles. After his impressive stint in Badhaai Do, Devaiah is back in the OTT space with a ZEE5 original series, Duranga, opposite Drashti Dhami.

During an exclusive interaction with OTTplay, Devaiah spoke at length about being a part of Duranga, the remake trends in Bollywood and more.

Excerpts below...

What made you say yes to Duranga?

I was interested in playing the character and I was interested in the story. I thought it was very intriguing and it compelled me to say yes to it. These were the first two variables that ticked Then came an opportunity to work with Pradeep Sarkar, Goldie Behl, Aijaz Khan, and Drashti Dhami. They were putting a nice and interesting team together. I had known her. I mean, she beat Lauren Gottlieb in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (laughs). I can't get over it. I think Lauren is phenomenal, and if she beats her, she must be even more phenomenal. So all these things made me, and she has curly hair, which I like.

You have been a part of OTT titles as well as movies. Is there any difference between what you find between the two mediums?

Not at all. I think they're pretty much the same kind of cameras and the same crew, people who work in cinema and work in the series formats also. I think television has a different style of working. So you have a different set of people who are specialised in that kind of work. I didn't find any difference. It is more of a number of days because in a series format it's not a two-hour or three-hour film script. On an average, you'll have six to maybe 10 or 12 episodes, depending on the series, and then subsequent seasons also. You do end up shooting a little longer; the number of days is a little longer, but the preparation and the kind of crew and the technical aspects of it are very similar to shooting film, except nobody shoots 35 mm anymore. Very few people do that.

This is an adaptation of the K-Drama series, Flower of Evil, so have you seen the original or have you consciously avoided it?

The plot lines will be influenced by the original TV show. But if we try to sort of individually not be influenced by the performances or the show and try and have our own fresh interpretation, it's impossible, but subconsciously it will affect you. In particular, if you like it. If you've watched something and you really like it, then, subconsciously, it will affect you too. It can be a whole lot of pressure, too, like, "Oh my god, that was really good." Now the pressure is on, like you have to be as good or better. So it's better not to watch the source material.

You have on your Twitter page mentioned that Bollywood has to be away from remakes and adaptations from now on, while Duranga is also an adapted screenplay. What do you have to say about it?

I do believe that. Maybe it's too much. Having said that, I'm also a professional, and some of the things that I've been part of have also been remakes of other things. That's my personal opinion as well. If we can make it well, if we can have a fresh perspective, if that story is relevant to us, then there is no problem with that. But if you're just following a trend, my issue is that you shouldn't just follow a trend. That makes you lazy. That doesn't make you able to push yourself. Because of the fact that both of us individually decided not to watch the original series, we figured out how to do this. So it's in our own way we are saying, "Ok, we will push ourselves, we will find ways to make it work." If we can do that, then there is no problem. But if it's just a trend and everybody's following it, then you're being lazy, and you're really closing all the doors for original content to happen.