Exclusive: Ishwak Singh on the changing dynamics of Paatal Lok 2

Ishwak Singh found a new audience base and a broader platform to showcase his talent with the now cult classic show Paatal Lok. The second season, which was released today, sees his character in a completely new light. Not just Paatal Lok, the actor has churned out one hit after the other with projects such as Rocket Boys and Berlin. The most important lesson that his success has taught him is to respect and understand his craft more. In a freewheeling conversation with Filmfare, Ishwak opens up about reprising his role as Imran Ansari in Paatal Lok, filmmakers’ changing approach towards him and more. Excerpts:

Tell us about the experience of reprising Imran Ansari, especially now that your character has received a big promotion in the show.

The experience was amazing. This time, it’s a different case, and the story has gone to a zone where it is going to be more exciting and surprising. You will see the zone Sudip Sharma has taken it into and how he has created these wonderful new characters. Everything has been amplified tenfold from season one. When we were working on Paatal Lok for the first time, we were doing a show. We all were hopeful that this would strike a chord. But now it has become a cult show. It was a mix of emotions.

Did the cult status of the show put more pressure on you because now you have high expectations to live up to?

No, I never faced any pressure. It comes down to the basics of understanding your character and knowing its place in the story. Getting that right is so important and challenging and it takes everything from you to get that right. There’s no time to think about anything else, such as pressure, success or failure.

Did your approach towards your character change this season?

It’s a progression from season one. My character was at a certain place in his life and career in season 1 and now that dynamic has changed. You will get to see that difference. In season one, he was kind-hearted, compassionate, dutiful and diligent. What happens to a person like that when they get power? That is the time that his character gets tested. Will he let the power get to his head or hold on to those virtues?

That is a major part of this character that I enjoyed.

Did your dynamic also change with Jaideep Ahlawat on the set because the character dynamics have completely changed?

We had a great rapport from day one and now it’s just got better. The entire crew had a great rapport. We all enjoyed the time we spent together whether it was in Nagaland, Delhi or Bombay.

What was the ambience on the sets of such an intense show as Paatal Lok?

It was a very relaxed set. The showrunners Sudip Sharma and Avinash Arun set the tone and Jaideep also has a very friendly vibe. He is a great team player and gets everyone together if he’s on set. There was a kind of maturity and balance.

You have been a part of good projects in the last couple of years. What important lesson did this success teach you?

Well, so much. It’s been a huge learning experience. And I have to give credit to the makers who had faith in me and I also believed in them, which helped me navigate through these intricate characters. These weren’t easy roles or films. They were quite challenging – whether it was Rocket Boys, Berlin or Paatal Lok.

Working with them, through these difficult situations helped me know so much more about the craft, myself and the business. Also, I understood how different faculties and components of filmmaking come together. I’ve been pretty fortunate and learned to respect filmmakers and directors, producers and good writing more than ever after all of this.

Are more filmmakers or directors reaching out to you now?

It’s too good to be true. The people I get to work with now and to know that I’m on their radar – it’s a great feeling to be in this space and to be accepted by the industry.

Where do you look at yourself five years down the line?

Times have changed. I’ve always believed in working on my craft and things I couldn’t have expected have come my way. I never thought I’d get a part like Imran Ansari in Paatal Lok, Berlin or Rocket Boys. Even if someone had asked me to pick my dream role, I wouldn’t have been able to create a team like this. At the same time, I do have a sense that there’s a certain sensibility I align with. Right from the start, when I was doing basic, small roles, it’s progressed in a certain direction. There is a common thread tying all the projects that I’ve done. I’ll tell you what the common thread is. Writers like Sudip Sharma and Atul Sabharwal (Berlin) have a knack for writing real characters. These characters belong to our times and are heroic. The idea of a hero that we have is someone who will do something grand. But in day-to-day life, you see people showing great character, and standing up for others when they don’t have to. These are more authentic and realistic things. These people are unsung. It’s writers like them who write such characters and put them under the spotlight.