Single Papa Series: Prajakta Koli, Manoj Pahwa And Ayesha Raza Share Behind-The-Scenes Insights

Recently released on Netflix, the web series Single Papa is a light-hearted yet emotional family drama that presents a single father’s unique and heartwarming story from a fresh perspective. The story revolves around a young man who, after a divorce, decides to adopt a child and become a father by choice. Kunal Khemu is seen in this pivotal role, along with strong performers like Prajakta Koli, Manoj Pahwa and Ayesha Raza in key roles. Let’s find out what the stars had to say about the series.

After the success of The Bads of Bollywood, what new or different will audiences see in Single Papa?

Manoj Pahwa: When the script of Single Papa came to me, I immediately felt that it was something different and special. Although the series is a family drama, its subject is very unique. We have seen many stories about single mothers, but very few about single fathers. This story is not about tragedy, conflict or compulsion. It’s about a young man who genuinely wants to become a father by choice.
When he makes this decision, how his family reacts, how society taunts him, and the taboos around adoption—these aspects are portrayed very beautifully. The moment I read the script, I knew I wanted to do this project. It’s a very honest and relatable story. Our director Shashank is a wonderful filmmaker, and working with him was a great experience.

So far, stories about single mothers have mostly been serious, while Single Papa has a light, comic tone—does this offer a new perspective on parenting?

Ayesha Raza: Single Papa shows the story of a young man whose heartfelt desire is to become a father—an emotion that cinema has rarely explored. Kunal Khemu has portrayed the father-child bond with such sensitivity and truth that there was a special magic on set itself, and on screen, this relationship looks even more beautiful.

The younger generation, especially Gen-Z and millennials, relate strongly to you. Was this character written keeping that audience in mind?

Prajakta Koli: The biggest beauty of OTT is that characters grow along with your age and life experiences. Namrata’s character is exactly like that—her friendly bond with her brother, a slight fear of her father, and conflicts with her mother are relationship dynamics that everyone can relate to. This character isn’t written targeting a specific audience group; it’s the story of an ordinary girl, and perhaps that’s what makes her so special and beautiful.

You have seen many phases of comedy from the 90s to today. How have influencer culture and social media changed it?

Manoj Pahwa: Every platform and every format has its own language and requirements—whether it’s social media sketches or influencer content. There, the creator is entirely responsible for the content; whatever you create is what people watch and like, and that’s how followers grow.

Then there’s the world of stand-up comedy—from legends like Johny Lever to today’s politically and socially aware comics. But our training has been as actors, where script, character, and performance are most important. That’s why I don’t really become a part of social media or comedy shows—it’s simply not my form. Still, it feels great to see that today’s audience is open to accepting artists in different kinds of roles, whether serious or comic. This change makes the industry more interesting.

Did your comic image ever make it difficult for you to prove yourself in serious or different roles?

Manoj Pahwa: Yes. During Mulk, many people said, ‘Manoj Pahwa is a comedian—how will he do a serious role?’ But I trusted director Anubhav Sinha, and I proved myself. Today, the audience is also mature and enjoys seeing actors in different avatars.

While working together on set, which quality did you admire most in each other?

Prajakta Koli: Manoj sir’s preparation and thoroughness are truly admirable. He always remembers the complete before-and-after context of every scene, which felt like an Acting 101 lesson for me. He is a seasoned and sensitive actor, and working with him taught me many important aspects of acting.

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