Interview: Guneet Monga, Vishesh, and Ashlesha Discuss "Gutur Gu"

Recently, "Gutur Gu Season 2" premiered on Amazon MiniTV and MX Player. In this context, the team of "Gutur Gu," including producer Guneet Monga and lead actors Vishesh Bansal and Ashlesha Thakur, spoke exclusively to Mayapuri magazine. They discussed the story of "Gutur Gu Season 2" and Guneet Monga's career, interests, and upcoming projects, especially in light of her recent recognition for "Lapata Ladies."

Gutur Gu Season 2 & Guneet Monga's Journey After 'Lapata Ladies'

Teen romance stories are quite rare. What has been your experience bringing this to an OTT platform?
Guneet: This story is truly beautiful. Much of the credit goes to our writer and director, Sakib. It all started with the short film "Gupt Gyaan," which received immense praise and love from the audience, leading us to create this full series—first "Gutur Gu Season 1" and now Season 2. The actors also deserve credit for the love the first season received, which motivated us to continue.

What has it been like working with Guneet Monga for you?
Ashlesha: Working with Guneet Ji is a matter of pride for me. When I saw her on the Oscar stage, I felt like I was doing something special in my life. Whenever people ask who I’m working with, I proudly say Guneet Monga. I’ve learned so much from her, and everyone speaks highly of her integrity and honesty.
Vishesh: For me, working with Guneet Ji has been a unique experience. I feel elated when people tell me they've watched "Gutur Gu." That feedback is a significant achievement for me. (He gets emotional saying this.)

"Gutur Gu" is quite a catchy name. How did that come about?
Guneet: The name was suggested by Sakib. Young adult content is limited and often cheesy. This story is about young adults exploring their emotions and lives, and it's a very real story.

What is special about this season?
Guneet: This season is based on long-distance relationships. I have experienced long-distance myself.
Ashlesha: When someone tells me they liked my character in "Gutur Gu," it makes me feel accomplished. I’ve been able to showcase my emotions, pain, and creativity in this season. The energy on set was great since we had previously worked together on Season 1.
Vishesh: Anand and Ritu find joy in the little things, like being happy over eating pani puri instead of five. They face challenges, have fights, but everything resolves in the end. I'm excited for the audience's response.

Guneet Ji, what do you think about "Lapata Ladies" and its Oscar nomination?
Guneet: "Lapata Ladies" is a beautiful film. I believe it will receive a lot of love in America. I think it’s one of the best Indian films of the year, and I'm excited about its campaign. I was in Toronto for a while, and people loved this film there.

The audience has become quite picky about content. What do you think about this changing landscape?
Guneet: This is truly the era of producers. Producers now have the responsibility to choose actors and stories. Earlier, actors were prioritized, but now the focus is on the story. Ultimately, it boils down to a good narrative. When the story is good, it gets published and distributed widely.

The film industry was previously male-dominated, but times are changing. You have an Oscar now. What are your thoughts?

Guneet: What’s happening now is due to good writing. Everything we showcase must undergo good translation. While a lot has changed, much work remains. There are many women in the industry today, but there was a time when basic amenities like washrooms were not available. Now, women are visibly present in the film industry, yet there’s still a long way to go.

Speaking of the audience, what kind of stories can we expect from you in the future?
Guneet: As a producer, I want to present a variety of stories to the audience. I aim to take India to a global level, bringing stories like "Brown Panther" and rich Indian narratives to an international stage.

You mentioned in an interview that you share a common passion for cinema with Karan Johar. Can you elaborate?
Guneet: Sometimes, it takes us a year to write a story or script, while actors read it in just two hours. After that, we need to gather funds and shoot it. I believe we share similar thoughts. Stories choose us rather than the other way around. I’ve loved stories since childhood, and now I’m bringing them to the big screen through my perspective.

What message would you like to give to the audience?
Guneet: I would like to encourage everyone to watch "Gutur Gu Season 2," which premiered on October 11. It’s available on MX Player and Amazon, and it's a beautiful story of two young individuals crafted with a lot of love.

It's important to highlight that "Gutur Gu" Season 1 debuted in April 2023 and has now come back with Season 2, driven by the tremendous affection it garnered from the audience.

By Priyanka Yadav

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