'The Freelancer' director Bhav Dhulia: Wanted it to appear like a camera was dropped in Syria

Mohit Raina

Although a lenient analysis will reveal that the action genre has found favour among web show-watchers, content creators know that novelty is still a key factor in making an OTT series, a success. Tasked with the job of creating yet another action venture, the makers of The Freelancer, we are told, decidedly worked towards creating sets that were de-glamorised.

Director Bhav Dhulia, of Rangbaaz and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter fame, says his priority while creating the backdrop of the show, set against the rule of ISIS, was to make it appear "as though one has simply dropped the camera in Syria". "We didn't want it to feel unlived-in. It was important for us to stay true to the story, which has been adapted from a book. Visually, there was no need to glamorise the show; we wanted to keep it rooted."

Morrocco served as the ideal location to film the Mohit Raina-starrer, for more reasons than one. "Because it is conducive to storytelling, and has a thriving movie industry, we found ample support from local authorities. About 300 technicians flew from the Middle East to work on the show. Also, the Moroccan military helped us immensely. So, we didn't have to settle for set-pieces; we could construct an ISIS village from scratch," he shares, adding that he strayed from adding the cosmetic touch that has now come to be expected of an action film. "By virtue of the format, we could dig deeper into the socio-cultural references. We leaned towards war photography, not war movies. We referenced Nat Geo documentaries to guide us in keeping the story rooted," he says, adding that the team shot at the same locations where classics such as Gladiator (2000), and Game of Thrones were filmed.

Raina, who became a fan-favourite after his act as a deity in an Indian television series, is known to successfully pull-off characters that require sufficient gravitas. "He is devoid of inhibitions, and has the sort of versatility that is unmatched. While he can pull-off action [scenes] with grace, it was important to keep him emotionally grounded as well. The beauty of storytelling in India is that though people may come [to cinema houses] for large set pieces and whistle-worthy action, it is the heart of the story that holds them back."