Exclusive! Priya Bapat and Eijaz Khan: City of Dreams S2 delves into patriarchy and dynasty politics

Priya Bapat and Eijaz Khan will be seen later this week in season 2 of City of Dreams, reprising their roles as Poornima Gaikwad and SI Wasim Khan, respectively. While Priya is a thespian known for her roles in Kaksparsh and Happy Journey, Eijaz's most notable contributions include Kkavyanjali, Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa and Tanu Weds Manu. 

Prior to its release, the actors caught up with us to discuss the focus of their upcoming season, their experience of working on OTT platforms based content and more. 

Watch the full interview here:

Excerpts from the interview:

Priya, did you refer to any Indian female politician for your character?

I didn’t. I just followed the script. I didn’t try to study or follow or understand or interpret any of the Indian female politicians. I just studied the script that was written by Nagesh Kukunoor and Rohit Banawlikar, and I studied my character Poornima Gaikwad. The character who was my inspiration in terms of looks was Smita Patil’s Umbartha. The way she stands and the way she looks, I think that was my image for Poornima Gaikwad, no political reference at all. 

How far would you say that season 2 is inspired from the current political climate in India?

Eijaz: I don’t think it is inspired by any true events. There is a disclaimer in both season 1 and season 2 that it is not inspired by any true events or any family. It delves into politics with a different prism; the patriarchal system, dynasty politics in a certain way. The first season was interesting to see from that perspective. Even where my character comes in, according to him, he is a victim of the system and he knows he can’t change the system. He wants to come back and be an active part of the system but he knows he can’t. He finds an ally in Poornima Gaikwad and he supports her not specifically because she is right, wrong or a woman or she deserves it; he does it because primarily at that time he doesn’t have a choice. Later on, he realises that she would be the best choice to lead the state as opposed to the other options. It’s not inspired by any person or any event or something; that would be a wrong analogy. 

Priya: I feel that these are the events that happen in your everyday life. What is cinema and what is storytelling?It is actually the depiction of what is around you. Your story comes from your day to day lives, where you come from and what you see around you. So it is all a reflection of that. 

Eijaz: If it was based on something, we would have said and even capitalised on it. 

How would you set apart your show from other political series?

Priya: We have a lot of family politics along with real politics.

What are your views on OTT censorship?

Eijaz: God give me the wisdom to accept what I can’t change and the strength to change what I can. 

Priya: I will go with what Eijaz just said (laughter).

Do you think OTTs have increased the shelf of artists?

Priya: Yes, in a way. Earlier, we used to go to movie theatres to watch films. But now, it is like there is a library available. You can go back and watch old films. They are accessible to you. It is a library of your work. 

Eijaz: Also, the quantity of work has increased. Before you could do only one film in a year. If you are working in TV, you are essaying the role of a character for one to two years. The star value system doesn't really work on OTT platforms. You have to be a good actor and deliver. If you're good, you will have work till the day you die. So I think it is doing justice to good actors. 

You have all acted in different formats so what has been different with regards to working on a TV show, a film and a web series?

Eijaz: In television, the parameter is time. In one day, you have to shoot an episode and deliver. You can’t go back and correct anything; what is done is done. In films, you have the luxury of time. If the director thinks a scene they filmed a month ago doesn't sit well with the scheme of things they have worked on later, either you remove it or re-shoot it. 

But on OTT platforms, it is very challenging shooting 10 episodes. You have to know each and every scene in all those 10 episodes, every character and their inter-dynamics and how their relationship changes with the other. In one day, you might be shooting a scene from the second episode or from the eight-episode. It always helps to have a director of Nagesh Kukunoor’s calibre and also, him being the writer, it makes it easy for actors like us. When we do our homework, it is spread out that way. Even when we came to season 2, we didn’t only have to know what happens in the 10 episodes of season 2; we had to re-visit every moment of our lives in season 1 and come back to season 2. It becomes more challenging. Of course, the bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward. 

Priya: The difference is that films work on the success of a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All about the film’s economics, whether people like it or not, everything happens in those three days. With OTT and web shows, it is not like that. Once it has been released, it is there, for life. If the people like the show, they can go back and watch it again and these are the areas which makes this platform and format very interesting.

Your series was going to be a movie before. If you had to prioritise projects, what would you go for - OTT, TV or film and why?

Priya: I am not a TV person. I have done less work on television. I am more of a theatre, film, OTT person. I would either go for a web series or film; my love is 50-50.

Eijaz: I don’t think it matters to me. What matters is the script, the director and the producer, in that order. I don't mind doing anything. Yes, TV takes away a year of your life at least because you have to prep for the character for three months. Then the next three months, you have to give your blood, sweat and tears to establish the show before you come to know whether it’s working or not. If it succeeds, they’ll give you one more year; if not, three more months.

At this point in my life, I don't want to expand that because the time is very less. I would love to explore films. I am getting offers from films which will be releasing on OTTs. I want to allot more time to that. But fortunately, seasons of TV shows too are coming on OTTs. A season’s shoot takes 3-4 months, then there’s a break for four months before returning for another season. If there is something like that, I would love to do it.

What sets season 2 of City of Dreams apart from season 1?

Eijaz: Us!

Priya: I think the equation, the dynamics and the depth of the characters are more intense and stronger than the first season.

Eijaz: In season two, you will get to know the characters at a much deeper level, understand their stories and choices better. I think people will love to see the transformation of SI Waseem Khan to a wannabe politician Waseem Khan and why he is acting in a certain way, how his relationship with his daughter and Poornima Gaikwad have changed, how his loyalties stay or change. For me, that makes my character very interesting and automatically it will make the audience’s view also very interesting.

Do critic reviews matter to you?

Eijay: How much ever we say that it doesn’t matter to us, it does matter a bit. We have to make ourselves understand that it’s ok, it is the critic’s job to critique. Sometimes it’s constructive, sometimes it isn’t. We have to console ourselves that our fans and family liked it. If it is critically acclaimed, of course it feels good. I think over here, with a stellar cast, with the direction, the story writers, the producers, I think we have got it pat on. Even last time, I don’t think there was anything not so great written about the show.

Priya: Even if somebody doesn’t like it or gives a bad review, I feel bad sometimes but as Eijaz said, I accept it because at one point, you have to agree to disagree. Not everybody will like everything and that’s why we say liking is very subjective. Some people like certain types of content and others different. As long as we are making it for an audience and the audience is enjoying it, then it’s great.

Can fans expect a season 3?

Eijaz: Oh yes! I am very sure.

Priya: We are hoping. We don’t know yet.