Entertainment

Aneet Padda, Fatima Sana Shaikh Lead Hard-Hitting Drama Hunkkaar, Backed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas

By MAYUR SANAP

The trailer launch for the upcoming series Hunkkaar: The Roar set a serious tone, with actor Aneet Padda opening the event by reciting a poem in a dimly lit room, centered around a single spotlight. The poem spoke of a young girl finding the courage to confront injustice, encapsulating the show's core theme.

Hunkkaar is directed by Nitya Mehra and Karan D Kapadia, a married couple, and stars Aneet Padda, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Zeeshan Ayyub, Raghubir Yadav and Zoya Hussain. The series follows 17-year-old Meenu Rawat, played by Padda, after she accuses a powerful cult leader named Baapji of sexual assault. The story then unfolds across the police investigation, courtroom proceedings and media coverage that follow her accusation.

The show's tagline is 'Insaaf chahiye, character certificate nahi' (We want justice, not a character certificate).

Director Nitya Mehra explained the significance of the title. "Hunkkaar is our battle cry," she said. "We feel strongly about so much injustice that is out there in the world. For us, it is very important that we take away this word called 'victim' and make something out of it. I want to celebrate survivors, always."

Interestingly, Aneet Padda shot Hunkkaar before the release of her blockbuster film Saiyaara last year, when she was still a relatively new actor. The series now releases after she has become one of the most talked-about young performers in Hindi cinema. Padda said she was 19 when filming began and turned 20 during the shoot.

"The show tackles a very powerful and sensitive topic for somebody so young to fully understand. But that was perfect for the character because she was 17. Something terrible happened to her. She possibly couldn't even articulate it to herself, let alone the world. Yet, she had to do it," Padda said.

She added that reading the script made her question her own perceptions at times, given how strongly other characters' perspectives were written. "You may start questioning your own truth when you hear so much about it from other people," she said, adding that the show explores this universal human experience beyond its specific storyline.

Fatima Sana Shaikh plays ACP Jasleen Singh Soni, a police officer investigating the case, marking her first time portraying a police officer on screen. Unlike typical cop characters, Jasleen is positioned as an ally to Meenu in the trailer.

Shaikh said preparing for the role changed her views about law enforcement. "This character helped me challenge my cynicism about the system," she said. She met officers of different ranks during her preparation and said the conversations shifted her perspective. "I realised that the system is formed by individuals; it is not collective. Maybe that's why we often generalise it as bad. But there are some people who are fighting for the truth and there are some people who want to protect us. They deserve our respect and we should celebrate them."

Zeeshan Ayyub plays lawyer Bhalerao, described as an underdog legal voice who takes up Meenu's case, moving the story from the police station into the courtroom. "When I read the script, I realised that when abuse happens to somebody, the people around them often behave in a way that makes them feel like their life is over. This show actually challenges that notion, which I found commendable," Ayyub said.

Raghubir Yadav, known for decades of warm and comedic roles, takes on the antagonist role of Baapji in Hunkkaar. Yadav said he was drawn to the discomfort the role brought him, noting he had long wanted a part that would challenge him as an actor. During the event, Aneet Padda applauded his remarks about pushing creative boundaries.

Actor and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who serves as executive producer on the series, could not attend the launch but sent a video message apologising for her absence. She praised the cast, including Padda, Shaikh, Ayyub and Yadav, and described Hunkkaar as a "powerful" and "timely" story.

Hunkkaar: The Roar begins streaming on JioHotstar from September 25.