National Film Award-Winning Director Nagesh Kukunoor Keeps Himself Away from Negativity

Acclaimed filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor, known for impactful stories like Iqbal, is back with a gripping new web series, The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case. In a recent interview, he spoke candidly about his latest project, evolving content trends, and changing audience preferences.

• Your new web series The Hunt is based on the sensitive topic of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Why did you choose to release it on OTT instead of in theatres, especially when films like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story performed well on the big screen?

Given the depth and volume of material available on this subject, I felt it was best suited for a long-format narrative. There’s a lot of layered content and many compelling events. A web series provides the scope and flexibility to explore such incidents in detail.

• What was the biggest challenge for the casting team, and how long did it take to complete?

The major challenge was to find actors who not only performed well but also closely resembled the real-life personalities. For example, casting Amit Sial as D.R. Karthikeyan took a lot of time. Similarly, finding Shafique Mustafa for the role of Sivarasan led us all the way to Kerala. Overall, the casting process took about four to five months, and around 130 actors were selected for various roles in Hindi and Tamil.

• When a web series deals with a historically or politically sensitive subject, how difficult is it to strike a balance between truth and emotional nuance?

I was personally very curious about doing something in the true crime genre, as I had never made a crime thriller or web series before. This show doesn’t have a political tone—it begins with Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and focuses on the investigation that followed.
In my career, whenever I choose a project, the first thing I ask myself is—have I done this before? If the answer is “no,” I take it up as a challenge. Of course, sensitive topics always carry the risk of controversy. But honestly, tell me—is there any show these days that doesn't spark debate? Still, I’ve handled this subject with a great deal of sensitivity.

• You’ve acted in films like Hyderabad Blues and Lakshmi, but took a long break from acting. Now you’re back in Paatal Lok Season 2. Why the long gap?

The credit for Paatal Lok goes to director Avinash Arun and producer Sudip Sharma for casting me and giving me the opportunity.
Occasionally, if an acting opportunity comes my way, I take it, but acting has never been my main passion. Writing is my first love. When they approached me, my first question was—“Why me?” Sudip had the perfect answer—“Why not you?”
So I agreed. Also, I liked the first season of Paatal Lok, which made the decision easier.

• How has the response been so far for The Hunt?

I’ve been off social media for the last six years. But my office team keeps me updated through calls, and based on what they tell me, the response has been very positive.

• In today’s era of social media negativity and constant controversies, how do you maintain mental balance?

Back in 2006, when I was making Dor, I asked myself a simple but important question—why do I start my mornings with negativity?
Not every day, but at least four days a week, I’d feel a sense of unease, despite things going well professionally. So, I stopped watching the news. That brought some peace. Then, in 2019, I realized that the same negativity was now seeping in through social media. That year, I completely disconnected from it too. Today, I can honestly say that I’m free from that negativity. 

• What can your fans look forward to next?

I’m currently working on two to three projects simultaneously. Now that The Hunt has been released, I can fully focus on the others. I’m always writing, and I hope to bring some fresh stories to the audience later this year.

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