After playing a Physical Training coach in the Hansal Mehta-directorial Chhalaang, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub was seen in the dark comedy A Simple Murder on SonyLIV. Directed by Sachin Pathak, the show received positive reviews from critics who loved its serious-comic premise. Zeeshan, who plays the central character, Manish, had fun playing the simple middle-class man who gets caught in a web of greed and lies – all because he is trying so hard to save his failed marriage. Some fine performances by talented actors such as Amit Sial and Sushant Singh add to the thrills and comedy.
In a conversation with TMM, Zeeshan reveals the behind-the-scenes camaraderie that brought out the magic on screen.
TMM: You have worked with director Sachin Pathak on the web series Rangbaaz Phir Se. Was the equation one of the reasons to work with him again on this show?
Zeeshan: Oh yes. Sachin approached me because we had worked together earlier and had gotten along really well. That easy equation was one of the reasons for doing this show. Apart from the script which I really liked, this was definitely one of the reasons of working on this show.
TMM: There are so many layers to Manish, the character you play in A Simple Murder. Was it a challenge to play a character with so many shades?
Zeeshan: Absolutely. That was the second reason I said yes to the show. The first and main thing was the genre. These kinds of shows are rarely made in India and I like them. My character had so many moods and layers. His character’s graph starts from being a loser and by the last episode, he is a completely changed man. He goes through so many ups and downs. One rarely gets to play so many variations in one series. We improvised a lot as well. We were exploring the character while shooting it. There was a lot of give and take with the captain.
TMM: The show had so much happened in it – from comedy to high drama to murders. There were so many emotions involved. How was the experience of shooting for a show like this?
Zeeshan: That is the fun of this genre. The characters are serious but the situation doesn’t take them seriously. They might be going through a bad time on screen but the audience is having a good laugh. That’s where the appeal of the genre lies for me.
TMM: You were also in the company of some wonderful co-actors, including Amit Sial and Sushant Singh. The latter was also with you in Rangbaaz Phir Se.
Zeeshan: Sushant was with me in the show but we didn’t have any scenes together in Rangbaaz Phir Se. His track was absolutely different. But he is from the same college as I, of course, he is much more senior to me. He was also from the same dramatics’ society. I have known Amit for many years in Bombay and he’s also a friend. While Sushant and I had many scenes together, I had two scenes with Amit. But it was a lot of fun. There is a certain energy on the set which is so integral to how the final product looks.
TMM: You seem to be enjoying yourself on OTT platforms. Are you happy with the kind of roles you are getting in the digital space?
TMM: Yes, I am. Also, after doing movies for eight or nine years, I am in a position where I can say no to a lot of stuff and select only good projects on OTT. But yes, OTT platforms are definitely offering better content than movies. There are so many exciting things to choose from, a lot of different things to explore. I am enjoying myself on OTT and I will continue doing more.
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