Offbeat film actor Purab Kohli is very happy with the new digital revolution taking over the country. He plays an important role in the new Netflix India original – horror series, Typewriter.
“It took me back to my childhood days in Lonavala (where I partly grew up) where I and a gang of friends would take off on adventures to scare someone, discover a waterfall or visit a graveyard, just for some laughs.”
Goa-based child lead girl character Sameera too ventures with her gang into an old villa in search of spirits.
“I am not a big horror fan, getting spooked easily. So I prefer to watch them during the day, closing my eyes and ears. Rather, I dig thrillers.” His well-known films have been My Brother Nikhil, Woh Lamhe and I Am. Purab began his acting sojourn with the tube show, Hip Hip Hurray.
He goes on, “Typewriter is also different from the run of the mill web s*x and abuse fest. We don’t have even one kissing or making out scene. In fact, Netflix’s other political drama, Leila, also followed the above template.”
Talking about his cop character, Purab says, “Honest upright Ravi Anand is not your typical macho Bollywood cop. Rather, he is like the everyday police officer you see on the street. I had to follow a certain body language which cops normally. exude, given their training.”
“Although there was not enough time for preparation, having been cast quite late in the day, I am quite satisfied with my final output.”
Difference between film and web-shooting? “Unlike cine sets, here you shoot much more. Our director Sujoy Ghosh has also come from films, so shooting was a great learning curve.”
“Acting is all about action and reaction. So if the other person is on the same page, your performance also goes up a notch. Child artist Aarna Sharma, with whom I had most of my scenes, was too good.” This is Purab’s second web series. Prior to this, he had worked in Voot’s Its Not That Simple. “For the moment, I am shooting for a Hotstar series, which will stream around Diwali.”
“Then I have one more black comedy flick with Sanjay Mishra. Today, different concept films are also finding takers. Also, distributors no longer want only known names.”