Exclusive! Tanaav's Sumit Kaul: Being Kashmiri Pandit, I have a better understanding of the situation there

Actor Sumit Kaul is all set to play an intense character in the upcoming web series Tanaav. The web series is the Indian adaptation of the hit Israeli TV series, Fauda.

The actor plays Umar Riyaz, aka Panthor, a separatist who fights for the freedom of the Kashmir Valley from the Government of India. In conversation with OTTplay, the actor explains why he has a good understanding of such characters.

Asked about what made him agree to play such a role, Sumit told OTTplay, "I had no reason not to do it. I am a Kashmiri Pandit, so I understand the emotion more deeply than anyone else. This character allowed me to explore the intense emotions of a person who society fails to understand. I think it is tough to look at reality from both perspectives; it is almost impossible to understand the other side of the story, because it is morally complicated. However, I got a chance to do so by playing this character."

The web series is directed by Sudhir Mishra and Sachin Krishn.

Set in Kashmir, the show is touted to be a nail-biting thriller that takes the audience on a ride to show how extremism and radicalisation have snatched away the peace from the Valley.

As Sumit is expected to deliver a nuanced performance in the show, we asked him about how he prepared for such an intense character.

Sumit said, "For the whole show, as well as for the character building of Umar Riyaz, we really had to put in a lot of extra effort. I do not look at any character as negative or positive, because there is no such thing. We human beings are complex and even a man who comes across as bad on the surface has a humane side."

"I know that every individual is going through some conflict or the other in their mind all the time. Some fight it loudly, while others deal with it quietly. Umar is a person who is a believer and fights for what he believes in," said the actor, who has earlier appeared in films like Haider, Mulk, Laila Majnu and Hamid, among others.

The show also features Arbaaz Khan, Danish Husain, Rajat Kapoor, Ekta Kaul, Manav Vij, Shashak Arora, Sukhmani Sadana, Waluscha De Sousa and Zarina Wahab.

Written by Ishan Trivedi and Sudhir Mishra, and produced by Sameer Nair under the banner Applause Entertainment, Tanaav is releasing on November 11 on Sony LIV.