The Waking of a Nation: Nikita Dutta, Taaruk Raina, and Ram Madhvani Talk About The Show

The Waking of a Nation: The trailer for the highly anticipated show The Waking of a Nation, featuring Nikita Dutta and Taaruk Raina, has already been released and is receiving an overwhelming response from the audience. The star cast and director Ram Madhvani recently held a press conference, where they shared insights into the series and answered questions from the media. Let’s find out what Nikita, Taaruk, and Ram Madhvani had to say about the show.

You all deserve hearty congratulations! The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is a deeply unsettling event, yet you’ve made a show about it. Could you tell us more about your upcoming project?

Ram Madhvani:  Our show is inspired by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, although we don’t directly depict it. The story in our show unfolds before and after the massacre, seen through the lives of four friends. While everyone says that General Dyer was responsible for the massacre, our story shows that it wasn’t just him – the entire institution was involved.

What role do you play in the show? What is your character like?

Nikita Dutta: In this show, I’m portraying a completely different character. Although I’ve played similar roles before, this one is quite unique. My character is very significant because we’re exploring a time when our country wasn’t free yet, and there are many untold stories of women from that era. My role portrays a woman from colonial India, and our writers have done an excellent job crafting this character. There’s no greater honor for me than to bring to life a character written by Ram Sir.

This show is about four friends, but which character do you play?

Taaruk Raina: I play the character of Kantilal Sahni, a lawyer who’s fighting against British colonial rule to ensure justice for the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The story is inspired by two events that took place around 1919.

In response to Taaruk’s comment, director Ram Madhvani added: Kantilal’s character is interesting because, at first, he believes that the British are not only fair in appearance but also in their hearts. Initially, he dresses in a coat, but by the end of the story, he shifts to wearing a dhoti.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is a sensitive topic. There’s no room for error here, as any mistake could lead to controversy. What was going through your mind when this project came to you?

Ram Madhvani: We take a very research-oriented and detailed approach to our work. We’re not saying that our show is a historical retelling, but it’s inspired by two real events. The characters may not be entirely fictional, but we’ve taken inspiration from actual events that happened in history.

Nikita Dutta:  While making this show, we always kept in mind the seriousness of the event that inspired us. We couldn’t take it lightly. During the shoot, Ram Sir and his wife made sure that the whole team tied threads on a tree and even lit a lamp as part of a ritual. This was something we kept within the team, but it speaks to the seriousness with which we approached the project.

We’ve heard that you shot the show without any makeup. How true is that?

Nikita Dutta:  Yes, I shot the entire show without makeup. I wasn’t allowed to wear even a drop of makeup, not even for touch-ups. If I was sweating or felt uncomfortable, Ram Sir’s strict instruction was that no one was allowed to touch up my makeup, because he wanted it to be as natural as possible. Initially, I found it a bit strange, as we actors are used to putting on makeup before facing the camera. But performing without makeup gave me a sense of freedom during my scenes, and it was a great experience.

You’re seen with a blindfold over your eyes in some scenes. Is there a special message behind that, and what can audiences learn from your character?

Taaruk Raina: The blindfold on my eyes represents how my character is blinded by the English mindset. As we mentioned earlier, this is a story about how I evolve from wearing a coat to a dhoti, and eventually, the blindfold is removed.

Director Ram Madhvani added: That’s why we titled the show The Waking of a Nation – it’s symbolic of both an individual and a nation awakening.

How did you prepare for this role?

Taaruk Raina: I prepared extensively for this role. I attended several workshops to make sure I could portray the character in the most authentic way possible.

What was your experience while shooting for the show?

Ram Madhvani:  If someone asked me to make this show with a different star cast, I’d refuse. I wanted to make this show with this particular cast. And if the show gets a good response, I’m open to making a second part based on the events of 1857.

Nikita, Taaruk, and Ram Madhvani's show The Waking of a Nation will be released on Sony LIV on March 7.

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