They say no guts, no glory and Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartik D Nishandar exemplify the fact that you have to put in your all when a story needs to be told. Their latest - Taali, is based on the life of Transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant. The makers praise Sushmita Sen who has embodied the role so effortlessly. They shed light on what made them choose this particular story, the purpose behind the kind of content they back and ensure that it connects with the audience. Excerpts: 
What kind of storytellers do you define yourselves as? Arjun: We get attracted to the kind of stories that are real, compelling and set in our times. Right now, for example, we have done Taali, which is an in-depth look into the life of a transgender. There is this boy who always knew that he is not a boy, he is a girl. How he lives his life and wins in his life. He comes to Mumbai. We have shown Sushmita Sen as a young 25-year-old. What did he go through? When a guy goes through something like this and it is a very positive story. When you see it, people will be motivated. They will know if Ganesh can become Gauri and do so many things then so can I.
What made you pick up this particular story? Kartk: The story was initially written for a Marathi film by Kshitij Patwardhan. And he brought it to us saying I am looking for a partner for this story. I can’t be investing right now but I need someone to hear it out. So we said okay let’s listen to it and when we did we said it is not going to fit into a two hour film. Plus it is a story that the entire nation wants to know. It took us almost a year to finish the writing. Then we reached out to Sushmita.
View this post on Instagram
Was Sushmita Sen your first choice for the role? Kartk: She was our first choice. Arjun: When we reached out to Sushmita, she responded immediately. She said to send me the story, she read it. She said she loved it and asked for the screenplay. Sushmita wanted to know as creators how we see it. How grungy will it be, how real will it be? Her questions were very specific. In six months she was sure she wanted to do it because she only does one thing at a time.
So she is involved in the entire process, not just the acting bit! Arjun: Yes she needs to know everything about everything. She just comes prepared. She knows today what we are shooting, what is the mood, and what is expected from me. Today this is my first look. It is a dream to have an actress like that to work with. But she also expects you to be prepared. Kartk: Right now as we speak, she is part of the campaign plan, promotions, and discussing the next posters. She is one of those actors who is involved and we had super fun working with her.
What was your reaction against the backlash for not casting a transgender in Taali as the lead? Kartk: We have cast 2,200 real transgenders in the series. We want transgenders to get jobs, to be treated as equals and all of that. Why not a trans actor in place of Sushmita? If we took an unknown actor, the reach would be less. We want this show to reach across the world. You know if we are sitting here and watching a Money Heist, Squid Game, then why can’t people sitting in France, in the UK, in the entire European continent watch Taali?View this post on Instagram
Arjun: by having an ex-Miss Universe playing transgender, suddenly you have it grabbing eyeballs. And finally, you want to tell this story and let it reach people. It is a story of a transgender mother, there’s a big part in the story where she is a transgender mother, who is adopting a lot of transgender kids and it is all told in the story. A man wouldn’t have been able to tell that story you know, to emote. It would have been unreal.
This is why we were like let’s cast someone who the entire world loves and respects and is one of the most beautiful women in the world. Gauri herself is extremely beautiful and logical. You sit and talk to her, and in two seconds she will know you inside out. And both Sushmita and Gauri have this similarity. You put both of them in a room, they are at the top of their game. It is amazing to see both of them together.
How involved was Gauri Sawant in the process of the web series? Arjun: From the start, story-wise she was always involved. We sat with her and heard her out, what were the ups and downs. View this post on Instagram
There have been many stories about transgenders of late. How would you say Taali is going to make a difference? Kartk: Our primary motive is after this judgement was passed in 2014 before it a transgender people could not have a death certificate. You die and you can’t be identified. They did not have a pan card, aadhar card, or a passport. So if you are a transgender, you are not living for the country, the nation. This is not the same in other countries. After 2014, they got an identity but did people know about this judgement? I don’t think so. If this show can get in that kind of leverage where they start getting employment and be treated as equals.
Arjun: Accept them as equals, that is what we are trying to tell. I hope whoever watches it feels like that and behaves like that. More on: Taali Taali Taali
SHOW COMMENTS
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p7XLpp2aqpVjsLC5jqKlrZ2iq7amw9JonLGbnKrAqsLEZqquq5iitrWtjKycp2WnlsBuu9SrZJ%2BhoqjBbq%2FHqKCcnV2irqyx0axkmqqaqrturc2dZKSZoqm4brvNZpqaq6Seu6h5xaipZqyRlrmqecCnm2aln6eyboKPbmluZpipuq0%3D