Avinash Tiwary on shooting in Jharkhand: Came here with prejudice and fear

Avinash Tiwary

The natural beauty of Jharkhand has rarely been explored on screen by Hindi cinema, one of the few exceptions being Konkona Sen Sharma's A Death in the Gunj (2016). Now, it is learnt that Bulbbul (2020) actor Avinash Tiwary has been stationed in Palamu - an area that was once a hotbed of the Maoist movement - since mid-August. He is said to be shooting for the screen adaptation of Bihar Diaries, which is based on Amit Lodha's book of the same name and backed by Neeraj Pandey. While Tiwary is tight-lipped about the project, he can barely contain his love for Jharkhand's scenic beauty. "I came here with a lot of prejudice and fear about the safety of people. But the production team has ensured everyone feels secure and comfortable during the long schedule. To see young women jogging early in the morning without any fear, prepping for various sports and staff selection exams has made me believe in the evolving culture of the place," he says.

The actor made the most of the opportunity by visiting the Palamau Tiger Reserve in Betla. "[The lack of] law and order in the past might have been one of the [reasons] the place was not explored much. The area has evolved beautifully, and can probably become a hotspot for wildlife and astrophotography enthusiasts." He hopes that more filmmakers showcase the state's beauty on screen, thus encouraging sustainable tourism in the area.

Also read: Avinash Tiwary: Hard to sustain role's emotional graph