Mohit Raina: I was completely sold by the Kaafir story

Dia Mirza and Mohit Raina are about to make their digital debut with Kaafir. The original ZEE5 was written by Bhavini Iyer and directed by Sonam Nair. The web series is based on the life and struggle of a Pakistani woman, who goes to India and who is considered an activist. She also gives birth to a girl while she was detained. His story is about an Indian lawyer-journalist, who releases them.

Giving a broader message of humanity, Kaafir also addresses the subject of prejudice and the division of "us against them" in the country. The show was funded by Siddharth P. Malhotra.

Mohit Raina became famous thanks to Lord Shiva in Devon Ke Dev Mahadev. He then starred in shows such as Chakravartin Ashoka and Sarfarosh 21: Saragarhi 1897. Recently, the actor was applauded for his remarkable performance in Uri-The Surgical Strike, in which he played the role of major Karan Kashyap. The 36-year-old recently met indianexpress.com for an exclusive chat about Kaafir, challenges related to the complexity of a character and the experience of working with Dia Mirza.

Excerpts from the conversation:

You play the role of a journalist and a lawyer in Kaafir. What kind of preparation did you have for the same thing?

I just realized that your work is tedious (smile). But honestly, I did not do much because my manager told me not to look at any document about journalism or law. She wanted to give him a realistic feeling. In addition, we did not want him to appear as a professional, but to present his human side. So, I deliberately kept myself away from any professional duty.

Producer Siddharth P Malhotra explained how you accepted the series at the first meeting. What hit you in the series?

As an actor, when you are narrated in a scenario, you know you are in the story in minutes. I have known Sid for years and we wanted to do something together for a long time. When he reached out for Kaafir, the story even sold me completely. And I also realized that this had to be done and placed in the public domain. Sid had history for eight years, while Bhavini wrote it 13 years ago. I am grateful to ZEE5 for supporting the show. Personally, I consider it a great honor that they even approached me.

You come from Jammu and the show takes place in Kashmir. Did it help you understand it better?

Now that you ask, I may have known it unconsciously. But that's not the reason I did the show. I knew the environment and the environment well, but not the situations and reactions we projected on the screen. I really do not know, but growing up there may have allowed me to play Vedant.

Do you think that a show like that of Kaafir is important considering the current scenario in our country?

think that a good story does not need a scenario or a situation, or even a particular period. If we say it with honesty and with the right intention, we will get love. As a team, we did not even know that the trailer would get such a response. Kaafir has been widely accepted and I am waiting for people to watch the series now.

The show speaks of prejudices we have as human beings. Personally, have you ever faced it?

We all experience it. But it is important that we do not carry luggage. It's a learning experience and, over time, you move beyond it. Kaafir has a beautiful message about humanity and about the fact that life is much more than having prejudices. And the sooner we realize it, it will be better for our personal growth.

You describe a complex character with two completely different types of emotions. Had it been difficult for you to do justice to both nuances?

Yes, it was a challenge to some extent, but I did not think about it much. The writing was so clear and the director so precise that I did not need to delve into the emotions. Honestly, I did not work hard on that, but rather focused on Vedant's trip from point A to point Z. It was difficult at first, but I lived his trip every day. It was actually a daily learning for me.

So, do you like to be a director?

I am very happy to be a director and to respect his orders. They are the captain of the ship and know exactly what they need. In addition, I think it's important for the actors to surrender. Personally, I need some time to do it, but once there, I understood everything. The actors are like babies who pbad in the arm of someone else. Everything is a matter of trust. Once you think you are in good hands, you feel comfortable.

How did you work with Dia Mirza?

It was fantastic. The 40 to 45 day schedule I had with her was a learning experience for me. This is a very thorough professional and a very honest artist. She is a donor and every emotion she has is so pure. As a co-actor, Dia m kept me on guard as I did not know what she was going to propose afterwards. I would really be afraid not to spoil his brilliant scenes. Even though she has been working for so long in the industry, she works so hard. She has never taken a day or a scene for granted. It was a revelation for her.