Summary
Director Akarsh Khurana speaks about how Jugaadistan is different from other college tales as it explores many aspects of campus life
Actors Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ahsaas Channa and Gopal Dutt talk about their characters
Actors Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ahsaas Channa and Gopal Datt, and director Akarsh Khurana came together for a virtual interactive session at the 19th edition of Kshitij, the techno-management fest of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur on March 5. Edugraph was the digital media partner for the event.
The team spoke about how their new web series Jugaadistan by Lionsgate Production is relatable to college-goers.
Excerpts from the session:
Jugaadistan is nostalgia
Parambrata Chattopadhyay: It is going to be a trip down memory lane for those who have just finished college or university, while giving them a sense of other things that go on at educational institutions in India. It includes the subtler and finer nuances that have been incorporated into the show. The show also presents this idea of India that we have always known. It is all very colourful with people from all communities, from all corners of the country inside this one melting pot. It evokes nostalgia and at the same time has this thrill factor that keeps the audience hooked to this show.
Gopal Dutt: My character is one of the backbenchers, or more appropriately is the Godfather of all backbenchers. You will find similar characters in every college and on every campus who goes out of the way of the mainstream. Different degrees of such people could be found in all places.
Jugaadistan Source: IMDb
Different, yet wholesome
Parambrata: Jugaadistan is not just a crime drama. When I first read the script, it appeared like a college campus show. It was a breath of fresh air. After I met Akarsh (Khurana), I gelled with him, and it has been a lovely experience working in such a setting.
Ahsaas Channa: Being part of such a stellar cast is a matter of honour in itself. I have done shows based on college life but Jugaadistan, although it is set in the same universe, is different from most other college tales. My character as a journalism student also stands out on a personal level. My look in the show is no longer that of a girl next door, and this is an area I had wished to explore. Aisha (name of her character) is one of my favourite characters.
Akarsh Khurana: When Lionsgate approached me for the first time and I realised it’s a college show, I was reluctant to go for it. I did not want to indulge in any cute college romance story all over again. But when I was informed that the setting is going to be different, like everything starting from the Delhi University vibe to college elections, to examination scams, it caught my interest. It is an untold story and, more interestingly, the story captures all facets. It does not move in a linear direction, rather it incorporates a whole lot of aspects. It is one a wholesome and packed story.
Work over stress
Dutt: Stress is inevitable in whatever you do, irrespective of which industry you are in. If you like what you do, the stress cannot make its impact. You cannot feel it. For example, if you are a football player, running after a ball can look stressful, but a player enjoys it. When you enjoy your task, stress can be well tackled. And even if you are overstressed, you deal with it in your way. Like I enjoy listening to music, watching shows and meditating.
Channa: I have romanticised the entire concept of workaholism a lot. I take up work even when it is least required because I enjoy it. For me, it is not the stress of work, but the stress of other things like the competition that goes around, or the thought that you do not want to miss out on opportunities that do bother you at times. To tackle such stress, I think one needs to be in the company of their friend and continue to believe in oneself.
Last updated on 15 Mar 2022
