When the fight for survival gets uglier

Sushmita Sen in the series

You would think that as the creator, Ram Madhvani knows the world of Aarya inside out. But he also knows the value of prep. Which is why the entire team, even though they were all familiar with their respective characters, underwent a rigorous workshop before stepping into the crime drama's second season. "I think every season needs some workshops. It was important for all of us to come back into the world. [Through the] workshop, we get into the characters and their back-story," begins Madhvani.

Ram Madhvani

By his own admission, the latest instalment is darker than the opening season, with Sushmita Sen's eponymous character stopping at nothing to protect her family. Madhvani's biggest struggle while writing the script was to ensure that the audience would empathise with Aarya despite her misdeeds. "She will show her claws again. She will be in a moral conflict about whether her family is her strength or weakness. What are the compromises she will make to become somebody she doesn't want to be? A lot depends on why she did what she did. [I hope people] will be able to identify with that and are on her side. [I hope they] sympathise with the choices she makes. They will understand her moral compass."

The Disney+ Hotstar offering comes only weeks after Madhvani's Dhamaka. Asked if he has come to terms with the mixed response to his directorial venture, the filmmaker says, "When I was recently in a New York pizzeria, I saw a photograph that said you can't make everyone happy - you're not pizza. As somebody who has in the past reached out to a wide set of audience, I want a wider audience to embrace what I made. But I respect the response that has come our way."

Also Read: 'We will only know about season 3 depending on the love we receive for Aarya 2'