Director Aanand L Rai said in an interview that he needed to understand the digital medium before taking the plunge and giving the audience “something new.” He said the digital space is populated by projects in the mystery and thriller genres, adding that he aims to deliver something different to audiences.
Rai said on the sidelines of the FICCI Frames 2024, “There are people making fantastic thrillers and mystery series, but I would love to do something different. I want to reach out to the audience with something new on OTT (over-the-top platforms). I want to give them a world which they have not seen on OTT before. So, I'll do things on my terms and conditions.”
“As a good student, I'll learn first and then deliver. This year you can expect (the show) but I won't reveal much about it. All I can say is, I'll be dealing with romance and drama,” he added. Known for films such as ‘Zero,’ ‘Raanjhanaa,’ and the ‘Tang Weds Manu’ franchise, Rai said he needed to understand the streaming medium before taking the plunge.
“All the OTT platforms were asking me to make content but I wasn't convinced as it's new (format of storytelling). It's a different kind of writing. It is character driven, it has a bigger plot and arc, which we don't have in films. Films are like a complete soul, and for a series you need a big body. So, I now know the difference (between the two mediums), but knowing is not enough. I have to learn," he added.
On the work front, Rai will begin shooting for his next directorial venture ‘Tere Ishk Mein.’ The movie marks the third collaboration between him and actor Dhanush after ‘Raanjhanaa’ and ‘Atrangi Re.’
