Kay Kay Menon: ‘Felt good to be transported to that era’

A still from the series

If Kay Kay Menon features in a project, it features in our watch-list. And if it blends his acting prowess with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's much-loved work, Sherlock Holmes, it's a no-brainer. That explains why we're looking forward to Shekhar Home. The JioCinema series reimagines the iconic detective in the setting of 1990s India. Playing the famed detective can be a big draw for any actor, but Menon says it was the story's adaptation that attracted him deeply. "I normally don't go with inhibitions at all. I go with an open mind [when approaching] any script. This story is set in a sleepy town called Lonepur in the 1990s, without telecommunication, mobile phones, or Zoom meetings. It felt so good while reading it that I was transported to that era," says the actor.

Helmed by Srijit Mukherji and Rohan Sippy, the mystery series also stars Ranvir Shorey, Rasika Dugal and Kirti Kulhari. Over the years, there have been many adaptations of Doyle's detective series, including the hugely popular Sherlock, fronted by Benedict Cumberbatch, and Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock Holmes (2009). Didn't the fear of comparisons cross his mind? Menon says he embraced the challenge without falling into the trap of comparison. "That is a trap. If I think like that, then I would never be able to perform. Benedict Cumberbatch is not playing Shekhar, right? Nor is Robert [Downey Jr]. I am playing Shekhar. I don't look at it from the prism of something that has already been done. Otherwise, every love story would seem like Romeo-Juliet and Heer-Ranjha. I go with the principle that this is a unique script and given to me only, and I need to do justice to it."

Holmes' biggest strength is his power of deduction. The actor is quick to admit that he doesn't have his subject's observation skills. So, he embodied the character by gleaning out his other characteristics from the script, even letting the fictional town's mood influence the role. "I found that there's a certain pace and rhythm that Shekhar sets, irrespective of the situation that he is in. I also represented Lonepur, that sleepy languid nature of the town seeping into this person. I let myself be; the mannerisms and body language happened. I don't design as an actor. It's all slightly transcendental." He adds that the production team had to carry out extensive recces before finalising Bholpur and Haldia in West Bengal as the locations for the fictional town.

What added flavour to the story is that it was helmed by Sippy and Mukherji, each bringing their distinct voice. "Their voices are very different. Srijit has a stereophonic voice, while Rohan has a softer voice. They are a powerhouse of talent and know how to go about a story. When I was doing Special Ops, I worked with both Neeraj [Pandey] and Shivam [Nair]. I love seeing the jugalbandi. Cinema is the most collaborative art possible."