Nagesh Kukunoor‘s political drama series, ‘City of Dreams‘ season 2 released yesterday, on 30th July, and stars actors Ankur Rathee and Sriyam Bhagnani opposite each other. The series, that released on Disney+ Hotstar, captures glimpses of a power struggle between a father and daughter.
Ankur, who we have previously seen in Taish, Undekhi, Four More Shots Pease! and Thappad, will be seen alongside Shriyam, who is known for her roles in Baaghi 2 and Batti Gul Meter Chalu. It’s the first time they will be coming together and I’m looking forward to seeing them on screen.
Speaking about Shriyam and director, Nagesh Kukunoor, Ankur said:
Honesty and humility are so crucial for any actor, and Shriyam was beaming with both in our scenes together. There is a gentle earnestness in her eyes, one that occasionally even diminished my need for a vivid imagination to get into character. A simple look into her innocent gaze would transport me into the scene and evoke the required vulnerability. It’s a rarity and blessing to find that in a co-actor. As for Nagesh Sir, I have yet to discover a more symbiotic relationship with a director. There were many instances where I would finish a take and suddenly be struck with an idea. No sooner I would notice Nagesh sir walking over who had already picked up on my creative impulse. A mind-reader! I would begin explaining an idea and he would finish it. Sometimes he would utter only a few words and I knew immediately his train of thought. Few words. He didn’t want to intellectualise the emotional space with too much conversation. He’d give just enough direction so that I could run with the idea and make it my own. I felt like clay.
Speaking about working with Ankur, Shriyam said:
Ankur is MAD! I don’t think there is ever a dull moment when you’re around this man. He truly brings life on set – he will be singing, dancing, making conversations with people or sometimes even working secretly in his van for his other projects. He is very supportive and will stay behind for the reaction scenes even when he isn’t supposed to and that’s what makes him such an amazing co-actor and even after doing so many projects, he comes on set as fresh as ever with so much curiosity!
Speaking about her director, she added:
Working with Nagesh sir has to be one of the best professional experiences I’ve had so far. There is so much to learn and absorb on his sets – from an amazing crew, to the set design, to the script, everything reads out a passion for filmmaking. He knows exactly what he wants from a scene, making the actor’s job very easy. People call directors the captain of the ship, and he truly was in every sense, the best captain one could start off on this journey with.
The Hotstar Special features actors Atul Kulkarni and Priya Bapat, returning as father-daughter duo Ameya Rao Gaikwad and Poornima Gaikwad. The show also features actors Eijaz Khan, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Sushant Singh.
With the show out now, I sure am going to check it out this weekend! What about you guys?