Made In India: A Titan Story has received unanimous acclaim. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, producer Prabhleen Sandhu spoke about the show, how it was greenlit and a lot more.
I saw the show before release and was floored by it. I knew that once it’s out, it’s going to get a lot of love…
(Smiles) We also had this feeling. In my heart, I knew everyone would love it. Before its release, we had its screening at NCPA with Mr Noel Tata and others. They also loved it. After the screening, we had a Q&A session in which I was asked why the youngsters would watch the show. I told them, ‘Because it’s a part of our history. We have been watching international period shows. Why not watch our own history?’. I had no doubts that the youth would be very interested to watch it. By God’s grace, that’s what has happened.
People are stunned to learn that Titan had to go through so much struggle. It’s so heartwarming and, at the same time, it makes you feel emotional about our own country’s product. Now, so many people know about it and understand its value. Otherwise, it becomes a classic case of ghar ki murgi, daal barabar.
Amul has given a tribute to the show and that clearly means the show is a success…
(Laughs) 100%! The day it happened, I was so happy. We have been seeing their ads since childhood and now they have given a tribute to our show. It was quite cool!
Also, the Department of Posts, Government of India, unveiled a commemorative postcard and envelope inspired by Made In India. It was another feather in our cap.
We spoke exclusively with writer Karan Vyas, who revealed that (Prabhleen’s producer-husband) Sunil Bohra bought the rights to the book ‘Titan: Inside India’s Most Successful Consumer Brand’, which was adapted into the show. What was it about the book that prompted you both to acquire its rights?
We have been buying rights to many books that too for several years. We have been doing from the time many didn’t even know that one can buy book rights and adapt them into films or series. In fact, at present, we are the biggest book rights holders in the industry. We acquired the rights to this book during COVID as we were quite impressed by it.
We didn’t know then if it’ll be made as a film or series. But we just wanted to adapt it. Then it was a long journey. We developed it with the in-house writers and then tried to get it on the floors. It didn’t happen until Amazon MX Player came on board. They also collaborated with us on Bhay – The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery. Incidentally, it was also based on a book. By God’s grace, we get a chance to acquire rights to the most interesting books (laughs). It’s just our luck.
Was it easy or difficult to get Jim Sarbh and Naseeruddin Shah on board?
Naseer sir was very interested when he learned about the story. By then, Jim had already signed the series; he was the first one to come on board. When we told him that we are considering Naseer sir for the role of JRD Tata, he was quite excited.
Jim Sarbh shaved his head for the role. Did you all ever consider using prosthetics?
Yes, that was our initial thought. For the sake of authenticity, it was important for him to go bald. So, we were contemplating using a wig. One day, Jim announced that he would shave off his head. I told him, ‘No, no, you can’t do that!’ He assured me, ‘Let me shave it off. It’ll look very nice. I do not want to do this with a wig’. Everyone in the team agreed with him. They realized that if he actually shaved off his head, it would look very real.
Interestingly, the other project that Jim was working on at that time, he did with a wig. Usually, people would wear a wig to play a bald character while keeping their hair intact for the rest of their projects. But it was vice versa for Jim!
Made In India: A Titan Story is the only show shot in the Tata Group’s headquarters, Bombay House, and Titan’s Hosur factory. Was it easy to secure permissions?
We have made this show with official permission from both Titan and Tata, from the very start. When the script was finalized, we expressed the wish of shooting in Bombay House, and they were too happy to cooperate. Meanwhile, the Hosur factory is a working one. We had visited the place for research and we asked them if we can shoot there. They replied, ‘Yes, as long as you don’t disturb the manufacturing, it’s completely fine’. So, we worked according to their routine and filmed for a good 15-17 days over there.
It was the best out of all our schedules. Every day, we would have our meals at the factory. Director Robbie Grewal at first was worried, wondering, ‘How would I survive for so many days on vegetarian and South Indian food?’! But he loved the food there! Everyone in the factory was so happy to interact with us. When it comes to Tata or Titan, you always see that their employees are happy. They do not look at the time and say ‘Ab mujhe ghar jaana hai’. If you ask them ‘Are you happy?’. They reply, ‘Can’t you see that on our face?’! We came across so many employees who were working there for 30-35 years.
Hence, it was one of the best shoots ever. Paise laga ke bade set mein itna seamlessly shoot nahin hota jitna iss working factory mein hua hai.
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The shoot at Bombay House was also special. We had seen it so many times from outside and then to get a chance to shoot there was quite memorable.
In times of violence and bloodshed, Made In India: A Titan Story is like a breath of fresh air. It’s a show that one can comfortably watch with your family…
A common feedback we have got from most people is, ‘For so many years, we haven’t sat together and watched something. This is the first show we have watched without having to forward a single frame!’ This is a big compliment. We realized later that iss show mein gaali nahin hai, crime nahin hai, action nahin hai. The only villain is the smuggler who has a gun, and his screen time is also quite limited. So yes, this factor has worked, and many are calling the show a ‘detox’.
Jim Sarbh was nominated for the Emmy Awards for his role in Rocket Boys. Would you like to send the show to the prestigious awards? Hopefully, it’ll help Jim earn a second nomination and this time, perhaps even win…
For sure. Jim has outdone himself. He has got even the smallest nuances so right. So, we’ll surely apply for it; why not?
Can we expect a sequel to Made In India, in which you perhaps focus on some other brand’s origin story?
We purposely titled it Made In India so that we can come up with more than one season. It may not always be about a brand or a company; it can also be about a person. But it has to suit the ‘Made In India’ idea.
The post EXCLUSIVE: Jim Sarbh headed for another Emmy nomination? Made In India producer Prabhleen Sandhu says, “He has outdone himself; we’ll SURELY apply”; reveals his UNBELIEVABLE prep: “Usually actors wear wigs to go bald; for Jim, it was vice versa!” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
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