Abhijit Das: Working with Ekta Kapoor is like witnessing a miracle!

One of the most awaited series Kehne ko Humsafar Hain Season 3 is all set to premiere on ALTBalaji and ZEE5 on 6th June. We at India Forums got in touch with the director Abhijit Das who opened up on his experience working with Ekta Kapoor, directing the series, challenges faced, OTT platforms and much more. Have a look: 

First of all, Tell us something about your experience directing the series and working with Ekta Kapoor?

I would like to answer the second part first. Bcoz its bigger than the show. Working with Ekta is like witnessing a miracle. I have directed 4 shows for her now and each time it's a learning experience. She narrates scenes while acting them out. She remembers scripts that she has heard even 3 months back including the changes she had suggested. Sometimes it's quite scary... But mostly it's inspiring to see her work. She says she isn't a writer. But she is actually an amazing storyteller. She knows how to work with the audience's emotions. 

As far as KKHH3 is concerned, it was a roller coaster ride. There were additional characters which made it complex. Personally, it's taxing because the characters and the situations are all real. So somewhere, everyone finds a bit of themselves in the series. 

Were there any challenges that you had to encounter in the series?

This season Ronit Roy is seen in a never before avatar. In complete contrast to the suave gentleman earlier, he is now a wasted alcoholic. But we also had some flashback scenes. The story had taken a 4 year leap. So he had to look older and younger in the same episode, while maintaining a greying stubble now. 

How will the fans see a change in the relationship in Rohit and Ananya in this season?

Season 2 had ended at a point where Ananya had walked away from the marriage and she was pregnant. It almost seemed like the end. But true love never ends. It finds its way through tough times. And every experience leaves us richer. Rohit and Ananya fight their own demons this season while discovering something in their own relationship. 

After having directed shows on several platforms, what do you think is the major difference while working on an OTT platform as compared to a TV show. 

OTT is almost like directing a film. It has a definite story arc. The evolution if characters are clearly etched out. The shooting is finished at one stretch so we know the dynamics of all the characters and if we need to change anything while shooting. TV shows keep evolving while we shoot. The story is also tweaked as per the reactions of the audience and ratings. So it's a bit unpredictable which turns out to be a different kind of a challenge. 

What more can the fans expect from the third season of this popular show Kehne ko Humsafar Hain which is all set to release very soon.

The lethal toxic character of Amaira played by the versatile Aditi Vasudev. She brings in the toxicity and complications of modern day relationships... That too with a man more than double her age. It's bolder. It's edgier. Ronit Roy transforms himself and seen as never before. The diva Sharon Prabhakar makes her entry to add more drama into Rohit Mehras life.

Please share your experience of directing the teaser from home

It was Ekta's idea to get the cast together for one last time before the show launches. And it was exciting to direct a 4 minute teaser from home. No lights. No cameras. Pure storytelling without the trappings of technology. It's a sign of things to come. Where our clarity of thought and power of storytelling in its purest form will dictate content. So my warm equation with all the actors through the making of the show paid off. They had to trust my judgement without seeing me. I had to believe in their talent blindly to pull this off. Shooting from home due to this pandemic makes us realise one thing. Creativity is all about people. And relationships. Everything else is just a frill.