Mumbai: Today the lines are blurred as the streaming business is getting more complex and complicated, as monetization gets unclear. There is so much disruption happening, AVOD is offering SVOD and vice versa. Premium content is provided absolutely free and much more happening in this sector. Subscriber add-ons are slowing down. Time spent viewing on OTTs has plateaued for almost each and every platform, and high churn continues despite attractive annual schemes being offered by them. However, the good news is that the paid OTT subscription market in India continues to excite an increasing number of advertisers who are willing to put out their ads on these platforms. Mobile continues to be the main device of consumption even as connected TVs are increasingly getting into Indian homes. Investments in content continue to burgeon as viewers' insatiable appetite continues to demand more and more.

It is certain that this new ecosystem is calling for new relationships to be forged, new partnerships to be developed as TV manufacturers, Cable TV, and DTH, and telcos and other aggregators' presence as gatekeepers to their customers is increasingly being felt. So, what is the way forward for the OTT platforms? Where do the opportunities lie? What are the challenges?

This year's Vidnet 2023 looked at all these scenarios and more, and found answers to some of these questions along with experts from the industry.

The City of Dreams is Applause's first original for HotStar. Season one & two did really well and this year Season 3 dropped on HotStar. The show has garnered good reviews. This year at Vidnet 2023 we did a masterclass with the producer, director and the main star cast of The City of Dreams.

The moderator of this masterclass was TV presenter & entertainment journalist Namitaa Sachdeva and the panellists were writer-director Nagesh Kukunoor, Applause Entertainment content head Deepak Segal, producer Elahe Hiptoola and actors Atul Kulkarni, Priya Bapat, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Eijaz Khan.

Sachdeva began the session on a light note by singing a few lines from Sachin Pilgaonkar’s romantic hit film song - “Bade Achche Lagte Hain”.

Thereafter the trailer for the latest season which was released on 26 May 2023 was played.

Further moving onto the topic of the masterclass, she asked, “‘City of Dreams’ when we hear this name, Mumbai comes to our mind, so what was the vision behind giving this title?”

To this, Kukunoor replied saying, “The initial approach was to tell a lot of intersecting stories set in Mumbai. So we called it ‘City of Dreams’. I mean it was as simple as that. Then we went through almost about 20 titles, at least. Then finally six months later again circled back, just before the release and said no City of Dreams sounds correct. So that's how we ended up.”

Expressing her love for the series, she asked Deepak Segal, “What inspired you to come up with a project like City of Dreams as a political drama?”

Segal with a hearty laugh said, “Nagesh inspired us! Actually, when Nagesh said initially we were looking at various stories intersecting in one city of different characters, but when Nagesh and Rohit Banawlikar co-wrote it, then we realised that this dynamic of power struggle that is there in various states in India and politics has a lot of potential. Then if you throw into the mix, a woman who wants to stand up for our own, a father who is supremely patriarchal, an uncle who's very machiavellian, a devoted cop who becomes her friend across three seasons without questions, he just does follows her. And so, that character mix was so strong that we knew that these characters are going to grow and the relation dynamics will have a certain chemistry. I mean, if you take even Gurav Kaka and Poornima’s story is she eats for the first time because he brings her food and so it's not exactly you scratch my back I'll scratch yours but there is a grudging respect, there is even love for a certain character traits of that person. I mean she does love Gaikwad even though he made her give up her first love and so the thickness of the characters thrown into this dynamic, the potential was really good that's why we decided to go for it and as the writing emerged of course, the twists and turns as you can see.”

Moving on to the actors, Sachdeva first questioned Sachin Pilgaonkar, “We can see all the layers in your character from season one till season three the graph has risen. So can you please tell us from first season to the third season, what kind of research did you do? You do it with so much effortlessness. Whenever we see you, you express it with your eyes. How do you do that so effortlessly?”

Pilgaonkar said, ”Well, I first of all need to be charged about whatever I'm doing. I'm charged in the sense, as an actor. So that's what I experienced when I read the all episodes of the first season. First of all, I was very glad that I was working with a friend for the first time. We never worked together before, except City of Dreams. But I got the opportunity to work under him because I'm a director’s actor, and I'm not a hypocrite when I say this. People who work with me know! But after that I met Nagesh and asked him what made him sign me or choose me or select me. So, he explained to me a few things and the graph of the first season I got to know I understood him and then I left myself in his area.

He further added, “As an actor, when I reached home on the first day, I said ‘Nagesh tell me what’, that was my first line and that happened from the first day of the shoot till the last day of the third season I shot. The same thing happened, I followed him totally. Look following is not the only thing which is important. First understanding him is more important. So I tried to understand him, and what he wants, then tried to follow, and rest is history! I feel very lucky to have such good actors with me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have loved to hate Gurav Kaka so much.”

To this, Sachdeva then asked him, ”It's really difficult for us to love a person on screen, and at the same time to hate a person asking, How did you do that?”

Pilgaonkar in a fun tone said, ”I didn't need to do anything that is the audience who's supposed to love and hate or to do both the things at a time. What I need to do is just encourage them to do so. I mean doing your efforts and yet being effortless.”

Taking Pilgaonkar’s last sentence forward, Sachdeva praised Atul Kulkarni and asked him, ”How did you prepare for this character, particularly from season one till season three, we can see those nuances that you are going through, and any kind of extra research that you do, or any kind of important thing that you keep in mind while selecting your roles or choosing this one?”

Kulkarni replied, “It's always the script, I think. Actors can do only that much. So whatever is offered, I think is extremely important. And as far as City of Dreams is concerned, I think the heroes are the writer, Nagesh Kukunoor, and of course Rohit Banawlikar. It had to be that well-written. When we're talking about 29 episodes, we are talking about six-seven films.  So to write that kind of stuff and keeping that line intact, keeping it interesting, keeping the audience intrigued, it is mostly about the writing, according to me. And when you get that strongest script, and that stronger director, I don't think that actors need to do much.”

Sachdeva added, “But apart from writing, there is something that an actor brings to life, the character. And that's what you do to each of your characters, every one of you.” She then moved on to question Priya Bapat.

“Priya we can see that layers from season one to season three in your character as well. Firstly, wonderfully portrayed the role of a homemaker, the role of a woman, the role of a mother, the role of a wife, and the role of a strong, fierce, confident woman as a politician. So what went behind the preparation of your character? And one more thing that I want to ask from you is, there are a lot of things that society expects from a woman that you have to do this, okay, then you can do that. And, there is a backstory that is shown in the series with you that a lot of things that you could not do, because your father didn't want you to do. So how did you take it in real life and also, with respect to your character?” asked Sachdeva.

Bapat said, “So as Atul rightly said, I think the first thing is the script and it's the most important thing because when an actor gets the script, that's the actor's whole world. And then for me, it is very important to sit with the director and hear. It was very, very important to know from Nagesh sir, what to do, what not to do. How does he see Purnima Gaikward in terms of her presence to what how will she walk, how will she talk, what will be her pace of talking, everything. So I think those details are not something that you discover in one day, it is a process. So you either discover it, when you are reading the script couple of times, or you try and find the ‘sur and the rhythm’ that the writer has already written in the script. There is always a there's always a rhythm that is there in the dialogue. And if you try and find that, then you will also know what the director and the writer are trying to tell you from that scene or the character. So that is one way of going about it.”

She further added, “I think the best part or the most exciting thing or the learning process for this character has been, the first day I remember when I met Nagesh sir, he told me that ‘I want you to be brave and innovation free.’ And I think that is what Purnima has taught me and that character has given me in terms of everything, I think learning new things as an actor, unlearning my earlier processes of how to approach a character and not judging your character at all.”

Sachdeva then commented saying that unlearning is even more difficult than learning to which Bapat went on to say, “It is, but when you have a director like Nagesh Sir, it is not difficult. I think we just surrender, every actor on set just surrenders to his process, because you have to, and I always say that he held my hand and he showed me a way and he told me that just walk on this path you will find Purnima. I think when you have a director like him you really don't struggle. I mean, of course, you do struggle but with his help, the process becomes much easier.”

Sachdeva then asked Eijaz Khan, “Of course your timing came very late in the series, but it has come now. So what do you have to say about that?”

To which Khan replied with a smile, “I consider myself the hero of the series. Whenever I read the script, every actor tries to see from his point of view. I thought in the first season as well that the audience is seeing whatever is happening through all those six stories through Wasim's point of view because he's the connecting thread of all stories. And in season two, of course, he tries to change his path and come and work with Purnima. That was very interesting. And, we are not in the habit of saying that you should watch season three. Because for the first qtime we are giving an interview after the release of season three.

Season three was very interesting because we got to explore different dynamics with Poornima and Wasim. I was a little scared but after the first few days I think with Nagesh Sir instilling this confidence in us, we were okay. So I never felt that this character is big or small.”

Moving on to Elahe Hiptoola, Sachdeva asked, “I would love to ask you, Elahe, you and Nagesh sir have worked on so many projects together. So what similarities do you find in him and you and what are the points where you disagree with each other?

Hiptoola said, “Oh, yeah. Many times we disagree. I hate it when he kills characters. I hate it when he says that, ‘isko uda denge’, I’m like why does he have to die, ‘he’s bechara’. Every time there is someone dying, I have a problem. So all the people who are dead on the stage, please know that I fought for you very hard. You know this was the first show that Nagesh has written where there are bad people. If you see all our movies, there are no villains. The world that he creates is always so nice. It's always free of villains it has happy endings. Like I always say that if we can't control our life at least we can control the reel life that we make unlike real life why do we have to have more problems? City of Dreams was unlike anything that he had written. It shook me in the beginning also. I was like there are prostitutes, there are bad people, there are drugs and this ‘Maaram peeti’ (rampageousness). But I guess it worked and it was fabulous.”

Questioning Nagesh Kukunoor on the casting, Sachdeva asked, “It must have been a process for you to cast all the ensemble season actors and bring them together under one frame. So how challenging was that to bring them together? Who was your first choice and whom did you cast at number one?”

Kukunoor replied, “The best part about the industry now is there are a lot of good casting directors that weren't there a little while ago. With City of Dreams, there were lot of different actors to look at. The ones who kinda came as an obvious choice were Sachin and Atul. Atul blindly said yes, but if anyone has watched season one, he sleeps through eight episodes. So he just went on the promise that the character had more to do and I as dishonestly as possible said yes. It's not in my hands, if the show well, we have subsequent seasons and if the show tanks after one season, then it was just a hollow promise. But lucky for us, we did okay. And then I got to explore his character further in two seasons, the two of them sitting in the far end were the ones who were a real challenge to cast. And in this case since Deepak is sitting here with applause, I have to give them credit that they entirely backed me on one very important thing. I was writing about a Marathi family having no clue about Marathi families. I was terrified but you know, you create a universe while you're telling a story and you move on with it.”

He further added, “One of the things that I remember is Deepak, in one of the early meetings, said we should cast Maharashtrians, for them to bring that kind of element. And I was like, y'all are going to back me on no names. Because initially, everyone goes down that standard list of 10 or 20, actresses. It's like, that's all the industry has, right? Every project begins with that same stupid 10 people list and you sit there scratching your head, every time! They (Applause) were very clear, they said just think outside the box, go with whatever. So we started this huge audition process and after three hours, it was down to two actresses. I won't say who the other person is but I had completely decided to go with the other person. I had made a mental decision. I remember the last meeting in the office I had with Priya and the other person. One of the things about Priya is she's one of the nicest people you can meet. This why I don't like to meet actors, because they're very nice and then on set, they either act poorly or they show their true colours. And I remember I genuinely liked Priya as a person, how far I met her and stuff like that. But I said, my gut tells me I have to go with the other person and as that other person walked out, she said something on her way out. Then I said, okay, I'm going with Priya! It was that dramatic. I mean, both the auditions are fabulous.  Then the person sitting at the far end Eijaz, we looked for Wasim Khan, for how many months Deepak? At least couldn't land a damn actor. Finally, when we thought we had someone. Unfortunately, again, I can't give names. Everything was done and a couple of readings happened and he (the other person) panicked. He left the meeting with me and then he called Elahe and said I can’t do it. So we're again back to the drawing board. This time when we were looking I was in the US, and they sent me one audition of Eijaz and it is arguably one of the best auditions I've seen in my life. I looked at the audition and said ‘Oh My God!’ He in his head had decided who Wasim was, and he brought Wasim to the table. And one of the things I told Eijaz to his face, very rarely do I come to shoot something, and a lot of times I look at him and say what would Wasim say in a situation like this? And he'd say bla bla bla and I’d scratch what I wrote to go with that. We did this all throughout seasons two and three. So I mean, he's just absolutely fabulous.”

Sachdeva then came back to asking Segal, “If I asked you how did you decide to maintain or strike a balance between staying true to the political aspect of the show? Along with that giving a compelling and gripping story to the audience. We have seen Applause doing so much of good work. But if you especially talk about this political drama, what was that?”

Segal said, ”I think Nagesh can answer this better. But actually, the way we make shows in applause is we complete the whole series. So our investment is rather large in the product, which we, along with the makers are convinced about completely. So actually, when Hotstar showed faith in us and said, yes, we want this one. So that kind of took a lot of weight off our shoulders. And then, of course, success in this field is getting more and more seasons to it because the exact metrics are never shared with us. So how we narrowed down on this with a lot of discussion with Nagesh and the story he finally came up with.”

She then asked him, “What do you do to maintain that entertainment aspect alive along with the theme of political drama?”

To this, Segal said an interestingly witty line to which all the panelists along with the audience burst out laughing along with a huge round of applause, that is, “Everything that you make should be entertaining, whether it's a tragedy or a comedy or action. If it's not entertaining, then you won't get Applause”.

Concluding the masterclass, Sachdeva asked one last question to each one of the panelists, that is, “One word that comes to each of your mind when we say City of Dreams as a project and for city of dreams - Mumbai”.

Deepak Segal: “When I heard that title for first time, I thought it was about Bollywood but then it turned out to be about the politics and as entertaining as anything we could have thrown up on the subject of value. And one word for Mumbai, for somebody of my age - Marine drive.”

Elahe Hiptoola: “One word for the project would be ‘Superhit’ and for Mumbai, it would be Churchgate station.”

Eijaz Khan: “When I think of City of Dream, it’s season four and for Mumbai it is ‘Spirit’.”

Atul Kulkarni: “Season four, but what Nagesh had promised me while doing season one. He wanted to do Godfather Two kind of season three.”

Sachin Pilgaonkar: “City of Dreams for me is a ‘game changer’ and Mumbai to me is ‘cunningly polite’.”

Priya Bapat: “City of Dreams for me is a dream coming true and Mumbai city is ‘home’.”

Nagesh Kukunoor: “Two words - ‘new horizon’ for the show because I got an opportunity to go into places that I normally don't as a writer-director and for this city, it's a Marathi word ‘Gardi’. ”