Exclusive! Sonalee Kulkarni says Mithun Chakraborty and her chemistry in Bestseller is the one to be watched out for

Popular Marathi actress Sonalee Kulkarni will be making her OTT debut with the upcoming thriller series Bestseller. The series, which releases on Amazon Prime on February 18, also stars Arjan Bajwa and Shruti Haasan, among others. Interestingly, it also marks the veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty's debut on the digital platform. In a recent conversation with OTTplay, Kulkarni opened up working with Mithun Chakraborty, their on-screen chemistry, what broke the ice between the two, the series, her character and a lot more. 

Kulkarni admits that she was nervous initially to work with Mithun Da like everybody else, but she says, he made everyone around him feel comfortable. "He is the easiest and most comfortable co-star to work with him. He has worked on more than 300 films in different languages and genres. He has received National Award multiple times. But he is so humble and down to earth. He does not make you feel like you are working with such a legend," she says, adding that he is a brilliant director's actor. 

There is a lot one can learn from the veteran actor. She says, "You get to learn so much from him by just observing what he is doing in a particular scene." She met the Disco Dancer actor a day before the shoot and she says the two hit it off over some conversations about Marathi cinema and actresses. "He has worked with several Marathi actresses. He told me that they are beautiful, great actors and amazing dancers. He had seen Apsara Ali and praised me for the song. That's what broke the ice. When someone like him comes and appreciates your work, you get the confidence to work with them," she says. Kulkarni also adds that they had minimum retakes and cuts. "Every time we would do a scene or a shot, he would come and tell me that he liked this shot or reaction and suggest me to do the same in the next take as well. He is so encouraging. It is like a dream come true to work with him. We just clicked instantly and ours is one of the chemistries to be watched out for," says the actor. 

Kulkarni plays the role of Urmila Ranade, an honest and sincere cop. She heads the cybercrime department and is tasked with solving a complicated case, which is also shown in the trailer, along with a senior cop, Lokesh Pramanik. She narrates, Urmila joins him on the case. They don't know much about each other and this is the first time, she is meeting him too. Pramanik is the most talked about senior cop and this is a big opportunity for her to be a part of the case with him. He turns out to be something different from what she has heard. The actor speaks further about her character. She says, "Urmila is not someone who talks a lot, she expresses more through her eyes. The two have weird chemistry at the beginning, which grows into a beautiful relationship over a period of time. That is the most important part for me as an actor to portray that in Urmila. She talks to him by sharing glances and that's what I enjoyed the most about the character."

The trailer of the show was released a couple of days ago and it has been receiving tremendous response. Many fans and celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan also shared positive reviews, watching the glimpse of the upcoming show. Kulkarni says if people have liked the trailer, they will also like the show and she assures that the audience will binge-watch it. "I feel amazing. It's my first digital show. It's a show that you will binge-watch. You won't be able to leave your devices after an episode is over. It is a show, I am sure, where nobody will be able to take a breather or a break," she says confidently.

She believes the project chose her rather than her choosing it. "When I got a call from the casting director Kavish, I was really very excited. When, as an actor, you are signing a project, you want to look at certain parameters. This show ticked all boxes - the content, story, my role's contribution to the screenplay, the ensemble cast, the makers - it all made a huge difference and was crucial for my decision-making. I am blessed to be a part of the show as it has got everything that as a viewer, you want from the show," she says. 

Though the core process of making is the same, she says it was different to work for an OTT series. She thinks working on a long format content with eight episodes gives a lot of space to explore one's character. "Every character has a background, their own journeys and complexities and we all got our own share to explore each and every character. That is where such a show gives you an advantage," she says. Unlike in cinemas, where the cast and crew shoot for a particular number of days, the series involved longer shoots. The shoot went on for about six months and was shot in various locations across the country. "It was a vast shooting experience and keeping the continuity for about six to seven months was a task. That is first for me," she says. 

The actor also shared an update about her upcoming Marathi-Hollywood project, Chhatrapati Tararani. She says, "Right now, we are prepping for it. It will take time to go on floors. It is an ambitious project and I am looking forward to it."