00:00Hello everyone, welcome to INS and congratulations for Made in India, a Titan story that's about
00:03to release.
00:05My first question is open to the floor, anyone can take the lead and start.
00:10Of course it's that one story which we feel deeply connected with and we really feel proud
00:13about but what was about your characters respectively that kind of appeal to your senses, artistic
00:20senses and then made you go, made you give your nod to the series so to say, anyone can
00:25take the lead and start.
00:26Sir.
00:26Mic is in your hand.
00:27Mic is in my hand.
00:28Yeah.
00:29Please.
00:29First access.
00:35Firstly, I connected to the overall story in general.
00:39Is that how you look at the content in general or is that your first instinct to look at the
00:44story over from the bird's eye view?
00:47Yes.
00:48I think, yeah, I want to be part of this story at all, first of all and second of all,
00:56do
00:56I love my character within the context of the story.
00:59Then further things like who's the director?
01:01What's the producer?
01:02What are my co-actors?
01:03Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
01:05But first that's the thing.
01:06So the story itself.
01:07So the story itself, I thought was fascinating.
01:09Then, of course, it was spearheaded by Xerxes and so I liked the scale and ambition of it,
01:18not just of our project, but what he had.
01:22Right?
01:24I liked that he really focused on creating a happy work environment.
01:33I loved the principles with which he worked.
01:36So there was so many things and they all were yeses.
01:41You know, they all were things that only excited me further.
01:44So I loved it.
01:47I loved being part of the project and I loved the team that was put together to make the
01:52project.
01:53Robbie Graywalla, director.
01:55He was selected by Sunil, Bora and Prabhlin, who were so enthusiastic about the project
02:04right from the beginning, their almighty motion pictures.
02:07They're so lovely.
02:08They treated us so well and made us feel so comfortable.
02:13And then Robbie did the same thing.
02:15And then the team that he assembled did the same thing.
02:17And then all of the co-actors were also incredible.
02:22So everything just kept getting better and better as the project went on.
02:26And then it made us feel that we were striving towards something quite beautiful and quite
02:30true and quite pretty and quite interesting.
02:33And we did have a lot of ambition and we wanted to tell the story truly and powerfully.
02:39And I have the tendency to veer on the more subtle side.
02:46Robbie is good at bringing more things out.
02:51Veerbav has a completely different approach to acting.
02:53Well, not a completely different approach, but just a different approach.
02:57We're very different kinds of actors.
02:59You know, we and that's how we were as friends in the show.
03:04So then, you know, art was imitating life and life was imitating art.
03:08And then the two were feeding each other.
03:10And the feeding of each other just kept making things grow and grow and grow.
03:15And so, you know, I loved it.
03:19Aditya, who shot it, I think he's done a superb job.
03:23I haven't watched it. Have you managed to watch any of the episodes?
03:25I saw one episode.
03:26So I think it's been edited superbly.
03:29I love all the use of the old Hindi music.
03:33It creates this nostalgic vibe and feel that's just so nice.
03:37It just puts you in that time immediately.
03:40So I think everybody has worked with such honesty and love to make the project come out.
03:45That I hope it resonates with people.
03:50Yeah, I'm sure it will. I'm sure it will.
03:51I can't believe that this story hasn't been told yet.
03:55You know, once you make it through the show, you will be like, what?
03:58This was a story that was meant to be told.
04:02And that's what was my first sentiment was when I got through the reading of the entire show
04:08that we did with the entire cast together.
04:10There are some stellar actors.
04:11Otherwise, also, you know, even in the office, you'll meet the other actors.
04:16And yeah, some very fantastic cameos also.
04:19I was like, this is a story that nobody knows about this in India.
04:25I mean, Xerxes, I obviously knew the entire arc of Mr. Tata and whatever, you know, he's done
04:33the kind of achievements that he's and he's got so much of like social and cultural capital
04:39to this country.
04:39You'll never forget he's one of the architects of modern India.
04:42And there's not a story that, you know, focuses on that or how he bought about Titan Industries.
04:51And you know, this is a consumer brand that just set a precedent in entrepreneurship also.
04:56So these were things which I have come to know after reading the script.
05:00So if I was, I felt so compelled to like read, to see it audio visually.
05:07And now when I saw the trailer, my first instinct was wow, this and everybody who's I've like
05:12interacted with, they've all said that we had no idea that, you know, Titan that this was the story
05:18of Titan, a watch.
05:19The music is kind of encrypted in our DNA, like that music that we hear at the end.
05:24Yeah.
05:24We've grown up with that.
05:25So it's, so I think there were too many reasons for this story.
05:30And then just having the right cast, being a small part of that cast, just being part of this world.
05:38Robbie Sir, Sunil Sir being so absolutely enthusiastic about it.
05:43So it was, there was nothing for me to like even think twice about.
05:46So I'm glad that people will watch it and they'll come to know who Xerxes Desai was.
05:52Because I had no idea that this was the journey of him as a character.
05:57And for you, I have a different question.
05:59He mentioned this thing that two very different approaches to acting.
06:03Purely in terms of contrast, this reminds me of a dialogue from The Dark Knight,
06:07where Nihita just says that's what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.
06:12What's that amalgamation of like when two artists from very different school of thoughts,
06:17they come together and create something beautiful for made in India story, for example.
06:22Luckily, the approach might be different, but it was something which was complementing each other.
06:29It wasn't that, dude, what the hell is he doing? What the hell am I doing?
06:33How are we gonna come on the middle ground? It was never like that.
06:36But yes, approach to a certain extent was very different.
06:40And I guess it helped us because the characters are also poles apart.
06:45Even though they are the best of the friends, but they are poles apart.
06:49And I guess I actually got a call from the producer, Sunil, sir.
06:53And he's a very enthusiastic person in general.
06:56He's like, I saw Nirmal Bhattak's house, he has done a lot of good work.
07:00By the way, I'm talking about Sunil.
07:01I said, of course, sir, I know you.
07:03He said, I'm doing a project called Titan.
07:06So I was like, okay.
07:07And he said, dude, this project is not always like this.
07:11So I would really love you to be a part of this.
07:14And I said, sir, I want you to play one of the founders.
07:17I said, what are you talking about? Yes, yes.
07:19I went, I met him and the team was so good.
07:23The production team, then our director, Robbie, sir.
07:26Everyone, like, honestly, I'll tell you, it was a treat to work with all of them.
07:30Our DOP, the art team, everyone, everyone.
07:35So, normally, it's like when someone comes to you and asks,
07:40what is your next project?
07:41You have to tell the details of the project.
07:43You have to create a world that this is my project.
07:46This is a rom-com or this is an action story, whatever.
07:49For this particular project, I used to just say that my next project is Titan.
07:54And then people used to tell stories related to Titan.
07:56So that was the time I realized this is something very special.
08:00And it all emotionally already belongs to the audience.
08:04Before even we started the shoot up, before the release also, it already belongs to the audience.
08:08And I guess that is what makes it very special along with the amazing team.
08:15And Jim, coming to you.
08:16The story set in pre-liberalized India, 30-35 years to the new economic policy.
08:21What are your memories of that time period when India was still under the License Raj?
08:27Not much privatization was there.
08:29So when you were in that time, I was just a twinkle in my dad's eye.
08:38I don't think I was alive then.
08:41I am 37, you must be.
08:42You must be at 15, 16 at that time.
08:45When?
08:46When?
08:46When are we talking?
08:4790s?
08:481990?
08:49Yeah, 1990.
08:50So that's the thing.
08:51So 1991, I moved to Sydney.
08:55My family moved to Sydney.
08:56And I was four years old.
08:57And then I lived there until I was about eight, nine.
09:00Then I came back again.
09:02And then my memories honestly are of school and downstairs and playing football.
09:08And that's about the extent of it.
09:11I don't really.
09:12Do you think the tech in the 90s was just the perfect amount considering Abhika Tech is very intrusive and
09:18hyper-connected?
09:19You know, I don't know.
09:21And I was very, very lucky in my opinion.
09:25I lived in the suburbs of Sydney.
09:29So not even city of Sydney.
09:31So not in an apartment, in like an old school suburban house, you know.
09:37Now the suburb was like far out, you know, of the main city.
09:42So it was, wasn't expensive.
09:44It was, all the kids in the area went to the public school.
09:47It was just, it was really a very, very simple and lovely childhood.
09:52Because there was a park up the road.
09:54You had a backyard.
09:55Everyone had backyards.
09:56You could go to anybody's house and play outside.
09:58And it was all about that.
10:00Now, despite that, my mother tells me that if she put me in front of the television, she would come
10:07back three hours later and she'd be like, Jim, what are you watching?
10:11And I would be sitting there just watching the news or the weather or whatever it had changed.
10:18I was just obsessed with the television and what was going on on the television.
10:23So, you know, maybe if I had access to all of that technology, I would have used it.
10:28I would have found sneaky ways to use it.
10:30But I think living in that particular place, it just opened yourself up to this possibility of going to the
10:40park up the road, you know, going into the woods.
10:45It was just another, another thing, you know, our backyard would be full of cockatoos.
10:50If we threw discarded food on a rock, a kookaburra would come and eat it.
10:56You could walk and see wombats in the thing.
10:58It was like another thing, I really honestly believe that's the way a kid should grow up.
11:02If you have the opportunity of taking your kids outside of a city and giving them a more natural kind
11:09of upbringing, I think it's just the best thing for you.
11:13If you have that opportunity, of course.
11:15Okay.
11:16And for you, Namita, working with Robbie Grewal, his last project was Joel Thief, I believe, a streaming film.
11:22Very different thought processes when he's directing or creating a story or making a story.
11:27To derive from such an artist who thinks across the board.
11:30What's that like?
11:32Robbie, sir, was actually the most comforting part of being because I was slightly intimidated with Jim.
11:38His process is like, you know, really, everything that is in front of you will take notes and like he'll
11:46be acutely aware.
11:47He has a lot of spatial awareness, I feel.
11:50And I felt like with Robbie, sir, just being there to, you know, ease you out and just tell you
11:57that you do your thing.
11:58Yeah, this is going really well and he'll encourage you.
12:00So, for me, it was like the most comforting thing on set and for me to not have these heart
12:05palpitations that I'm going to do a scene and how is it going to turn out to be where he's
12:10dropping suggestions at the drop of a hat.
12:12So, these are things you're like, yeah, he would like suggest a, you know, a different line, a different reaction.
12:18What?
12:19Yeah.
12:20So, I would have to deal with that and Robbie, sir, would be my shock absorber.
12:25He would absorb the shock that I would be, yeah.
12:30There's a disagreement brewing there.
12:31Would you like to say something?
12:32He would stick to the script very strictly.
12:35He would come right before the scene as the take is going to happen and he would say just when
12:40I do this, do this.
12:41Okay, just react like this or whatever.
12:43Tell me to take note of, okay, this jam is lying in front of you.
12:46I was saying that I'm going to be doing this.
12:48I'm just letting you know that I may do this.
12:51If I try this, then just know that I may try this.
12:54He said I'm not going to come in the scene and I'm just not going to say the line.
12:58I'll do this.
12:59I'll be like, okay, okay, okay.
13:01I'll be aware that.
13:02I just like to add blocking.
13:04Yeah.
13:05So, yeah.
13:06It was comforting to have Robbie, sir, who I could exchange those glances with and be like, yay.
13:13I'm not the only one being thrown off.
13:15Okay.
13:16And coming to you, Abho, apart from the timepieces, the Tata conglomerate is also known for SUVs of the 90s,
13:22of the 80s.
13:23Tata Sierra is one.
13:26What's your favorite from the house of Tata?
13:28If you have to quote one or name one.
13:33Good question.
13:37Tata Safari, I'll tell you why.
13:38Because it has that nostalgia.
13:42While I was doing my engineering from Pune.
13:44At that time, the only one in our group, he had that car and whenever he used to go to
13:51outing.
13:53So, that was his car.
13:55So, I remember Tata Safari.
13:56So, for me, it's nostalgia.
13:59Yeah.
14:00That's the car.
14:00Okay.
14:01And finally, for my last question, Jim.
14:03You are a deep thinker and a quick thinker as well as Namita mentioned in the previous answer.
14:08I want to know what you do in your meantime, what is it that you consume literature, art or anything
14:14and how do you process it?
14:20Thank you for saying that.
14:21I don't know if it's necessarily true.
14:24But I like to watch things I like.
14:26I like to read things I like.
14:28I like to spend some time with friends.
14:29I like to be around people whose thoughts and approach to life I really enjoy and I can learn things
14:38from.
14:38It's like that.
14:40Currently, I'm reading Confederacy of Dunces and Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.
14:46There's a show I really like at the moment called Widow's Bay on Apple TV.
14:51Highly encouraged.
14:54Yeah.
14:55The last time we met, I think you were reading a book by Jim Corbett around the Champa World Tiger.
14:59Oh, yeah.
15:00I'm fascinated with this guy.
15:02That guy.
15:02I hope somebody makes a show or a movie based on him.
15:06I would love to play the character.
15:09One, of course.
15:10And two, it is really a truly like another one of these inspiring stories, you know.
15:16Of a English guy raised in India.
15:20Grew up in India.
15:21Absolutely rejected wanting to go back home.
15:24Had no desire to go back home.
15:25Did not enjoy his compatriots and how they were treating India.
15:29Thought they were exploiting it completely.
15:32Fell in love with the place.
15:34Could speak Hindi better than anybody else around.
15:37Started out as a hunter because that's kind of what he had done when he was younger.
15:43And then they needed help.
15:44Hung up his gun.
15:46Would only come back in at specific times when there was a man-eater basically that needed hunting.
15:54The Champa World Tiger.
15:55Many.
15:56Yeah.
15:56He hunted many of them.
15:58And you hear the stories and it's incredible.
16:00And he says that if he had grown up in a different time when the photo, when the camera was
16:05invented.
16:06Instead of the gun, he would have never picked up a gun.
16:08He would have never ever picked up a gun.
16:10It's just back then, the only way to go into the jungle for five, six days was if you were
16:14a hunter.
16:15You know, there was no other, there was no other financial, fiscal way to support it.
16:21Find it, what a fascinating guy.
16:24What an interesting, lovely story.
16:27I hope that gets made one day.
16:29I'm sure.
16:30Someone makes it.
16:30Titan releases on 3rd of June.
16:34Perfect.
16:35So on that note, thank you so much and I wish all the best.
16:36Peace very much.
16:39It's okay.
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