Actor Ashmit Patel made a return to the screen following a short self-imposed break with the Watcho Exclusives series ‘State v/s Ahuja’, in which he portrays the protagonist, Ansh Ahuja, a Bollywood actor accused of rape by his maid, Deepa Sawant (portrayed by Anurekha Bhagat). The actor recently discussed what convinced him to be a part of the series, and the working experience with the ensemble cast.
Ashmit shared what prompted him to accept the role in the series. “I identified a lot with the character because it’s a role of an actor who’s falsely accused of things, which immediately resonated with me. There was an immediate sense of identity with the character, and I felt like, at least in terms of casting, I was a good fit. The character had many layers to it, and the script was wonderful. So, I thought it would be an interesting challenge for me to take on.”
He further added, “Also, when I met Suresh Thomas, the producer of the series, whom I’ve known for many, many years, it felt like a perfect fit. Suresh Thomas is actually an old business associate of my dad, and they’ve had a business relationship for years. I’ve known him since I was a teenager. When he reached out to me for this project, I was quite surprised, considering he was only in the music business, and this was one of his first ventures into film production. He reached out to me, and having a family connection, I felt compelled to accept. Moreover, Tarun Chopra, the director, narrated the whole script to me, and I loved it. So, it felt like a win-win situation, and there were no reasons for me to say no.”
Talking about the working experience with the team of State v/s Ahuja, Ashmit shared, “Between scenes and takes, if it wasn’t a highly emotional or serious scene requiring a solemn atmosphere, there was good banter. Tarun Chopra, the director, is a youthful and cheerful individual whom I got along famously with, and my co-stars also contributed to the positive atmosphere on set. While there weren’t any elaborate pranks, there was definitely a positive vibe.”
“Honestly, we managed to shoot the entire show within a very limited timeframe, and we actually finished everything right on schedule. Other than some minor reshoots, everything proceeded smoothly. We even had a backup day scheduled, which ended up being used, but overall, we adhered to the planned timeline. I found myself missing the set because of the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere right from the beginning. In fact, the scene between my wife and me was the first scene we shot, and it set the tone for the rest of the shoot. Starting with such a heavy scene and nailing it right away boosted our confidence and set a high standard for the rest of the shoot. I believe everyone who was part of this project had a great time,” he concluded.
State v/s Ahuja follows the tumultuous journey of Ansh Ahuja (portrayed by Ashmit Patel), a Bollywood superstar accused of rape by his maid, plunging him into a world of suspense, investigation, and courtroom drama. As the narrative unfolds, viewers are gripped by unexpected twists, pondering whether Ansh is truly guilty or if a deeper conspiracy lurks. Produced by Suresh Thomas for Crescendo Films and Amicable Crew, the series boasts a stellar cast and is exclusively available for streaming on Watcho.
