Darsheel in Gamerlog: Abhinay Deo Says “We Needed a Super-Confident Face!”

Abhinay Deo (Abhinay Deo), known for his distinctive storytelling in films like Delhi Belly, Blackmail, and the recent Savi, is currently making headlines for his new youth-focused web series Gamerlog, starring Taare Zameen Par fame Darsheel Safary in the lead role.

Gamerlog Director Deo Aamir Khan Interview

Deo is among the select few directors in Bollywood who have worked with prestigious banners like Aamir Khan Productions and continues to stay in touch with Aamir even today. In a recent interview, he spoke in detail about his journey as a director, memories associated with Aamir Khan, the changes in the industry, and how Gamerlog connects with the younger generation. Presenting this special conversation with director Abhinay Deo:

• Generally, people go to the public first and then release their film or web series. But you released your web series first and are now reaching out to the audience. Why is that?

You're absolutely right! But I believe that if there is honesty in your work, it speaks for itself. I released Gamerlog first because I was confident in the strength of its content, and knew it would reach viewers on its own. Now that the series is out and people are reacting to it, I felt this is the right time to connect directly with the audience — to hear their feedback and share the vision behind the project. I don’t see promotion just as a marketing tool, but as an honest conversation.

• What is the biggest difference you notice between the innocent Darsheel of Taare Zameen Par and the mature actor Darsheel of today?

We were looking for an actor who had innocence but could also portray both action and emotion convincingly. According to our story, the character had to belong to a Gujarati background — and Darsheel naturally fit the part. The bigger challenge was that the same actor had to play the calm and composed character Raghu, as well as the sharp, smart, and super-confident gamer avatar ‘Maverick’. And Darsheel portrayed both shades very effortlessly.

• You worked with Aamir Khan on Delhi Belly. Would you call it a coincidence that your Gamerlog and Aamir Khan’s Sitare Zameen Par released around the same time?

(Smiling) Yes, we can call it a coincidence — but a very sweet one! Working with Aamir Sir on Delhi Belly was a very important milestone in my career. We’re still in touch, and whenever something interesting happens, we talk.
As for Sitare Zameen Par and Gamerlog — both our projects released at the same time. In fact, Gamerlog's release dates got pushed multiple times, and Sitare Zameen Par was also supposed to come out earlier. But somehow, both ended up releasing together. Maybe we were meant to arrive at the same time — and we did.
What’s even better is that we’re still in touch with Aamir Sir. Just a few days before Gamerlog's release, we went to his house and shared this coincidence. He too was pleasantly surprised.

• Did you watch Taare Zameen Par? How did it affect you personally or professionally — especially when it comes to selecting youth- or child-oriented stories?

100 percent! Around that time, I was in discussions with Aamir for Delhi Belly, and Taare Zameen Par had just released. It was truly a phenomenal film — the entire country knows that.

Gamerlog is an Indian e-sports web series featuring Darsheel Safary in the lead role. The series premiered on Amazon MX Player on June 12, 2025.
As for director Abhinay Deo — he has built a remarkable career in advertising, having worked with major agencies like Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Lowe, and Taproot-Bartle Bogle Hegarty. His client portfolio includes global giants like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nike, Toyota, Cadbury, Nestlé, and Unilever, among other multinational companies and brands.

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