Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia doesn’t believe in following one set style. With the web series format coming to the fore, the writer-director of films such as Haasil, Charas, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Paan Singh Tomar and The Great Indian Murder (Disney+Hotstar), feels that in creating a particular world, having a good understanding of its social milieu is the most important consideration. Tigmanshu Dhulia, who also co-directed a few episodes of Criminal Justice Season 1 and Out of Love Season 1, spoke to The Telegraph Online on his Sony LIV web series Garmi, its young cast, his take on today’s youngsters and his learnings from the streaming world.

The Telegraph Online: Garmi reminds us of your directorial debut Haasil (a 2003 film starring Irrfan, Jimmy Sheirgill, Hrishitaa Bhatt and Ashutosh Rana).

Tigmanshu Dhulia: The entire endeavour in Garmi was to showcase student politics, the aspiration of the youth and the hinterland. I wanted to revisit the world of my first film Haasil and see what has changed. I have put a new story in the same environment, such as the small town, student politics, aspiration; how a young, innocent, talented boy wants to pursue UPSC and become an IAS officer and what he goes through, the garmi he feels and what happens to his dreams.

In 20 years, there’s been a huge shift in the lifestyle of youth. While doing research, what did you notice?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: There’s a major change and because of it, the ancillary changes have come. The lust for money and greed has changed the entire paradigm, so everything stems from there. When we were students, it wasn’t that money wasn’t important but there were other things that were important too, such as inculcating and imbibing finer things in life like literature, music and history. Now everybody is running after money. Other things are forgotten, which pains me a lot.

In what ways do you think youngsters have changed?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: I think the core has changed. Now we see youngsters in SUVs all around. Twenty-two-year-olds have a sense of power and that’s why they honk a lot, to show a fake sense of machismo and confidence. Youngsters everywhere, whether in urban, semi-urban or rural areas, are aggressive.

In Garmi, you have worked with a lot of youngsters. How has it been?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: My protagonist Arvind Shukla (played by Vyom Yadav) is an MA first-year Political Science student. I knew the 22-year-olds won’t have much experience. My casting director Mukesh Chhabra gave me a lot of options and ultimately, I chose the best among them. What I was looking for was a correct face as I knew I won’t get an experienced actor, and I wanted someone who can ace the dialect.

Vyom Yadav plays Arvind Shukla in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Garmi, streaming on Sony LIV. Sony LIV

Are you happy with newcomer Vyom Yadav’s performance?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: Oh, I am very happy and satisfied with Vyom and all the other young actors. The audience will like the fresh faces. As they are so young, I didn’t have to work on bringing the emotions out.

When streaming platforms bank on bigger names, you have come up with a web show which has no big names attached to it…

Tigmanshu Dhulia: Some platforms stress on getting stars for the show but there are some like Sony LIV who never put pressure that I must get big names from the web world. They are mature enough to understand that I will get only newcomers for a show like Garmi. Though for the elderly roles, there’s Mukesh Tiwari, Vineet Kumar and Jatin Goswami. But 90 per cent of the cast are new.

Jatin Goswami plays Mritunjay in Garmi. Sony LIV

Over the years, you have created your own style. What’s the most important factor as a director?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: Any art form has to deal with two things — content and form. I don’t follow one style. I write my stories. Understanding the social milieu is more important than the story.

What have you learnt from the world of web shows?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: Before personally indulging in it, I also watched a lot of international shows to understand the structure. OTT is all about the world where the story is set in, and one has to have a good understanding of the world to get a good grasp. In web shows, the supporting characters can also be explored along with the protagonist.

What are your favourite web shows?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: I liked Boss and Peaky Blinders. Rocket Boys is phenomenal too.

How is the biopic on Mughal-E-Azam director K. Asif shaping up?

Tigmanshu Dhulia: I am working on it. It’s too early to talk about it. We are working on the script. There’s so much to talk about him because he has only made two-and-a-half films. Most part of his life centres around Mughal-E-Azam, so our film centres around the making of the film. I also just finished shooting a feature film, Ghamasan. It’s a dacoit-and-cop story.