Sohum Shah: Anybody files case against OTT as it is vulnerable

Sohum Shah

If the trailer of Maharani is anything to go by, the Huma Qureshi-starrer appears to be inspired by the 1997 appointment of Rabri Devi as the Bihar chief minister. After then-chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had to resign from the post due to his alleged involvement in the fodder scam, many believed he retained control of the state by making his wife the ceremonial head. Sohum Shah, who plays a chief minister adopting a similar strategy in the SonyLIV original, however, insists that the show is a work of fiction.

"I play a Bihari politician, but not any real person in particular. When I was given the narration, I realised the script and my character were powerful. My character has his own political agenda [in making his wife the chief minister]. He has shades of grey, but instead of judging him from a distance, I read more about the character and understood his thought process," says the actor. Set in the murky world of politics, the Subhash Kapoor-created series also underlines the caste divide in India. "Casteism exists in our country, which shouldn't be the case. There should be equality, and the show touches on these aspects."

After the release of Tandav sparked a huge controversy earlier this year, content creators are walking on eggshells whenever developing a political thriller. The episode led to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry calling for age-based classification of content and a three-tier regulatory mechanism. Shah backs the move, believing that it's in the best interest of makers. "I think censorship will help [the makers]. Otherwise, anybody files a case against OTT platforms, knowing that they are vulnerable. Like films, OTT offerings too need a [regulatory] committee."

Also Read: Huma Qureshi's Maharani loosely based on Rabri Devi?