Exclusive! Mohit Raina: It’s the supply and demand model that works for OTT

Mohit Raina is unarguably one of the most talented actors in the industry right now. From becoming a television star after portraying the character of Mahadev in a TV series to essaying the role of Major Karan Kashyap in Uri: The Surgical Strike and Naveen Sikhaira in his latest venture Bhaukaal 2, the actor has proved his mettle as a versatile performer on the screen.

In a recent chat with OTTplay, the actor talked about his latest MX Player web series Bhaukaal 2, his character and his views on OTT platforms. Excerpts:

Talking about the series, Mohit mentioned, “The response in the first season was really overwhelming! During the first lockdown, the initial part was launched. In this season, the whole team tries to take it up a notch. We tried our best to make it as intriguing as we can.”

He added, “The first instalment was all about Shaukin Khan if we talk about the main antagonist and this season, we’ve focused on Dega brothers, who are again very dangerous criminals. And we all decided that we cannot only depend on the action, we need more masala as well as it comes with a message that could succeed in changing certain mindsets. The second instalment is as entertaining as the last one with double the action. Dega brothers set some major antagonist goals, while Naznin, the wife of Shaukeen, has her motive against the police offer in the series. It’s a completely entertaining package.”

When asked if all the incidents have been shown exactly as they happened in the show, the actor answered, “Yes, it all happened. All the incidents are true and are based on the life of Naveen Sikhaira. How he single-handedly took up the challenges of fighting certain elements of the society. How he single-handedly went and completely cleaned the society in those years. I don’t think for a second, one can even imagine what kind of responsibility they take and with sheer determination, they fight the system and the goons. Hats off to that man.”

Talking more about Naveen Sikhaira, Mohit added, “People loved him for so many years for who he is and what he did for them. I’m fortunate enough to be in his shoes. I got to meet him in the first season, his family and his colleagues as well. As I said, the amount of love and respect people have for him is immense.”

Since he was playing the role for the second time after two years, he says it was less challenging and more interesting to play the character. The Mahadev actor mentioned, “Well, it was less challenging and more interesting because you always want to do something which is really different. When the first season ended, the makers thought about how to take the story ahead and make it interesting in the second one. And that’s what they did.”

Mentioning his priority on the basis of which the talented actor takes up a project, Mohit told OTTplay that he mostly goes for a better story. He further added, “How my role is shaped in the project, what all colours it has, what more I can give to the character. Then the makers, the producers, there are a lot of aspects. For me, the intent really matters. It can be a small story, it can be a small project but the intent of that project matters a lot to me,” he said.

When asked if his fans still see him as Mahadev (the role that made him a television star), or they see him beyond that character, the actor replied genuinely and said, “If it’s up to them (fans) they would never let me do anything else but just sit and play Mahadev only. That kind of love everybody has for that part. The love is immense and unimaginable. I feel really overwhelmed with their response. But I think they do realise that at the end, I’m an actor and I have to work for my craft and I need to play different characters.”

The actor also shares his thoughts about the established actors getting their dues after the boom of OTT platforms. He says, “I think getting a due is a big terminology to use. It’s the supply and demand theory that works for OTT. There are so many subjects, there are so many stories that people want to watch. The consumption is huge. So, the makers are trying to make as many shows as they can and supply them to the audience. So, in the search for good actors, people are approaching bigger stars, different actors. Everybody is getting to choose different roles,” Mohit added and signed off.