Director Gopi Puthran and Vishal Jethwa talk about Mardaani 2

Gopi Puthran; Vishal Jethwa. Pictures/PR

On the first anniversary of the superhit Rani Mukerji-starrer Mardaani 2, director Gopi Puthran and the film's antagonist Vishal Jethwa talk about the impact the hard-hitting film has left on Indians.

Gopi says, "When people consumed Mardaani 1 and 2, the common responses were wow what a gripping film! A story which grips you and is not just preaching to you throughout the film, which I think is a stand out factor when it comes to the Mardaani series. It is, as I like to say about Mardaani, completely in a space which speaks about women, their issues and it is in that domain."

Speaking about the feedback he received for his villainous role, Vishal says, "I received a lot of feedback and compliments for my work in Mardaani 2. Gopi Sir, in one of his interviews, mentioned that Vishal is like water, you can give him any shape and he will take it, that, in itself is a huge compliment coming from an experienced director like Gopi sir. The legendary Rekha ma'am started crying after watching the film. She praised my performance and said that she can see maturity in it."

Talking about how he and the project might have pushed Rani creatively and how she relished the challenges, Gopi says, "I'd like to believe that it pushed her, because Rani, the kind of work that she has done, the kind of characters that she has played, I hope Mardaani is up there somewhere. Rani, until then, always had a phobia when it came to water and entering the water and all that, which she overcame. She pushed herself to train hard before we shot the underwater sequences and during the shooting also. It was pretty tough for her but she managed it really well."

Vishal adds, "In one of her interviews Rani ma'am did mention that she got to learn a lot from an actor like me and this coming from a big star and powerhouse talent like Rani ma'am would mean a lot to any actor including myself."

Opening up about his ambition as an actor in Bollywood, Vishal says, "I am not a person who believes in setting goals. I enjoy the process more than the outcome. My ambition would be to play different kinds of roles in my career, work with different directors and people so that I can grow as a person and as an actor. The kind of love and respect I have got from Bollywood and people around me, if I can sustain it, that in itself would be a huge achievement for me."

Also read: Rani Mukerji: Mardaani As A Franchise Gives Hope And Courage To Women

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