On working with Rati & Manav - Director Ashish Shrivastav

In an exclusive interview with us, director Ashish Shrivastav opens up on his journey, working with Rati Pandey and Manav Gohil in Shaadi Mubarak and the effect of pandemic.

Your journey is spread across almost 2 decades, can you let us know more about your journey in the industry?

This journey has been fantastic and amazing. I started my career as an assistant director with Balaji in 2004 and then slowly started doing individual shows. Since then, I worked with many and big production houses like, Rajshri Productions, Directors Kut, Shashi-Sumeet, Optimistix, Creative eye, Excel vision and many more.. Working with different teams and different production houses and making shows for channels like Star plus, Colors, Zee TV, and Star Bharat has been an enriching experience. 

With having so many shows in your profile, which two shows are the most closest to your heart?

After doing so many shows ,I can say that yes, there are two shows which are closest to my heart. They are Pyaar ka Dard Hai...Meetha Meetha...Pyaara Pyaara with Rajshri Productions and Ye Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke with Directors Kut. 

What according to you has worked for you in the industry?

I try to highlight the storyline with actors' performance and their characteristics more than focusing on the camera angles and shots. My approach is mostly to present and make it look more real and believable to the audience. I feel that if I will believe then my audience will believe and trust in what we are trying to present.

And if my audience is connecting then we have done justice to the storyline. And we have seen that connection with shows like Pyar Ka Dard... and Ye Rishtey... because people are still asking for second seasons of my favorite TV shows. It means that the work is justified.

How is your experience working on Shaadi Mubarak?

It is always great to work with Shashi-Sumeet Productions, It is my second project with them. Earlier I did Dil Se Dil Tak with this production house. Shaadi Mubarak is a great show and a different concept for me as well because earlier I have directed shows with young couples or young lead actors but with this team and even the storyline, it is also different. So, overall it's a great experience.

How has been your experience of working with actors like Manav Gohil & lead actress Rati Pandey?

In Shaadi Mubarak, both actors are professional and seasoned actors. They are always eager to experiment new things. It's always a pleasure to direct such a team of experienced actors.

How do you think the pandemic affected the TV industry? What do you think about the future of the television industry?

I think every industry has been impacted badly. And I feel that those who are still working should consider them lucky and be obliged because God has been kind. We just hope that everything comes back to normal soon in and outside the TV industry because work is important for everyone.

As a director what precautions are you taking while you are shooting under pandemic conditions?

We are following all necessary COVID-19 guidelines. Though it is difficult to shoot for 14hours in a day wearing a mask all the time but when we think about everyone's health then it is important. And we are trying to give our best and trying to give the best content to the audience.