When it released in the summer of 2023, Kohrra became an instant clutter-breaker in an overcrowded genre. Set in Punjab, but eschewing every stereotype associated with the state and its people, the Sudip Sharma-created series started off with a murder but evolved into a complex, in-depth narrative rather than just a simple crime story. Powered by the presence of Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti as two downbeat but honest cops, the slow-burn stunner proved to be an instant winner for Netflix.

Now, Kohrra is back with Season 2, with Sudip making his debut as director, along with Calcutta boy Faisal Rahman as co-director. Barun Sobti returns as Garundi, with Mona Singh making an entry this season as a powerful but vulnerable cop. At a recent interaction in Mumbai, t2 caught up with Mona, Barun, Sudip and Faisal for more on their February 11 release.

If we go back three years ago, what was the starting point for Kohrra? And did the overwhelming response — from viewers, critics, award shows — take you by surprise at any point?

Sudip Sharma: At inception, it was a pretty small show, but the impact was huge. The story, the characters, the setting reached out and people took to it. I remember meeting a lot of people from Punjab, including some filmmakers, who told me: “We never thought of showing Punjab this way.” That was very flattering because Punjab does have a flourishing film and theatre industry. Being an outsider, I was careful about how I was portraying the state and its people. Receiving that kind of compliment was heartening.
Barun Sobti: The series worked in its first season because it was so novel. So many people, especially from Punjab, came up to me to say how well researched it was. As actors, we rarely get to do something which is so new and surprises the audience to the extent that Kohrra did.

Mona, what did you think of Season 1 and what made you want to be a part of this world this season?

Mona Singh: I am a big, big fan of Season 1. I started watching it and couldn’t stop! I am a Punjabi and there was an instant connection. It was refreshing to see Punjab in a different way — not glorifying it in terms of spectacle and dramatics — from how it is normally shown. Kohrra felt very authentic because it showed the underbelly of Punjab. The rawness of the show hit me. Season 2 is even more dark and gritty. So, as a fan of the show, I was very happy to be a part of Kohrra 2. I was also proud that the makers had thought of me.

What was it like playing a cop boss? Delhi Crime to Kohrra 2 to more, women cop bosses have become a distinct subgenre in the Indian streaming space...

Mona: I had never played a cop before this. I came into Kohrra from a very different universe... I was shooting a comedy series before this. Before Kohrra, I had never been in uniform, I had never played a boss.

It is a serious role, but it has many layers. We had intense rounds of workshops, and I am very thankful for them. As an actor, you realise that it is not just physical and emotional discipline that you need to carry... you also have to work on your graph as an actor. The acting workshops helped me understand the character better. We had the luxury of time, the luxury to create a backstory for every character, and it was very enriching for me to be a part of Kohrra 2.

Were there any boot camps as such?

Sudip: The boot camps were more emotional than physical (smiles). There are some very intense moments between Mona’s character (Dhanwant) and her husband, played by Pradhuman Singh. They have a shared history and a turbulent past. In fact, they would see each other on set and start crying....
Mona: We would just burst into tears! In the first schedule, we had our home scenes together and Sudip sir would leave us locked in a room and tell us: “Just be here.” He would ask us to observe and absorb and be in the moment. The scenes would become so intense that we would end up howling. I was like: “What’s happening?!” We were so much in character that it helped us evolve and understand each other better. I learnt that most intense scenes are not about shouting and screaming... it is about suppression. When a character tries not to cry or explode, that works more powerfully than the explosion itself.

Faisal, you have worked with Sudip closely before, but this is your first time directing a series. What was it like getting into the world of Kohrra? And Sudip, what did Faisal bring to this season that was uniquely his?

Faisal Rahman: Yes, I have worked with Sudip sir on the two seasons of Paatal Lok, and the journey of Kohrra 2, in many ways, was an extension of that journey. The kind of writing he does... the shows that he has done... there is so much to learn from. He always encourages to make the best story one can.
Sudip: We have been working together since 2018. When I decided to take on a larger role (turning director) with Kohrra 2, I was scared of piling too much on my plate and messing up the broth. I needed a strong support system, somebody I could trust and could be a sounding board. I needed someone who understands my aesthetics and also brings in his own that I can relate to. Faisal and I have a shared sense of aesthetics and that was helpful for me going into this series which is so intense.

What has always distinguished Kohrra is the fact that apart from the murder that happens right at the outset and the element of mystery that shrouds the series as a whole, it scores a bigger win in the way it explores the inner lives of its characters, both primary and secondary. Would you agree?
Sudip: For me, that is what the show is about. It is about the characters and the relationships they share. The murder mystery is my way to ensure that the project gets greenlit (smiles). It is okay to have a hook and to give people a reason to tune in. But there is also a large section of the audience that wants to watch stories about characters and see how they evolve. It is not that we are going to sit you down and tell you a six-hour story about character evolution. The crime at the centre of Kohrra is a necessary tool that we need to be able to tell the rest of the story. For me, the rest of the story is what the show really is.

Having said that, we always have to ensure that we get every aspect of the story right — whether it is the thriller segment and the crime investigation part and that there is a momentum that is maintained from one episode to the next. I respect that... that is the nature of the beast one is dealing with in the long format.
Faisal: The exploration of Dhanwant’s character is, for me, the high point of this season. To see the journey of a character like that is very exciting.

Barun, how do you think your character has evolved from Season 1 to 2? Garundi also lends the show its humour...

Barun: Garundi’s life has evolved in the second season. It is the coming-of-age season for Garundi. The first season was about this young cop — rough around the edges, both in terms of personality as well as his work. He also wanted to get out of the toxic situation that he was stuck in at home. In the new season, he has found love and a new home and wants to do better in life. But the father-figure character (Balbir Singh, played by Suvinder Vicky) he had in Season 1 is not there now. He has to fend for himself and the beasts of the past are still lurking in the darkness. This season is about him coming into his own and rising to the occasion. It starts with the lingering vestiges of the first season’s character and then you see him getting more settled, and therefore, more fun. But there is a lot of push and pull in terms of how he is placed between his past and present.

Mona, how did you balance playing such a contrasting character — someone so stoic and yet so vulnerable, sometimes both at the same time?

Mona: A lot about her is internalised. There is a lot of self suppression on her part. She is a stoic, no-nonsense cop. The dynamic at work is difficult, but so is her personal life where she is going through the complex situation of IVF. She and Garundi have to work together and gradually, they find their own and collective bearings through an unspoken understanding. Empathy, honesty and loyalty slowly develop between the two.

Sudip and Faisal, if you were actors, which character would you have loved to play in Kohrra?

Sudip: If someone put a gun to my head and asked me to choose, I would probably want to play Dhanwant’s husband. First, he is close to my age, but definitely not in terms of his circumstances (smiles). He has baggage from the past and also unprocessed grief. If it weighs you down, you sink; but if you come out of it, it could be your path to something newer and perhaps better in life.
Faisal: I like Garundi. I like how he is placed in Season 2 — at home and work. It is an interesting journey.