A thrilling encounter

The show Encounter anchored and narrated by a suave Manoj Bajpai, deals with the underworld of Mumbai and how dreaded gangsters have met their maker through police encounters. 

 

Encounter is scheduled to be 13 episodes long and deals with dreaded underworld dons like Manya Surve, Shamsher Bhopali, Sikander Baghdadi, Maya Dolas, Dr Lala, Kalia and others, though the makers have changed the names of the gangsters. We speak to channel representatives, the actors, and seasoned actor Manoj Bajpai regarding the kind of research they did, trouble from the police, viewer feedback and more.

 

The channel’s CEO Shikha Sharma says, “The episodes are directed by different directors and the response has been tremendous. We have a huge research team and have not faced any controversies for the episodes already aired. The authorities too haven’t created any hurdles.”

 

Actor Ravi Gossain, who played gangster Kallan in one of the episodes aired, says, “Playing a tapori was challenging but it was an interesting character. Kallan was a kind-hearted personality and did not have any intention of becoming a mafia don. He, somehow got entangled with the underworld.”

 

Narrator Manoj Bajpai, meanwhile, says that he is immensely enjoying his association with Encounter. “It’s a different experience. TV is a huge medium and has big reach. The show is based on real-life encounters but the narration is not preachy and I am liking it… As an anchor I get to voice my opinion, which is very different to playing the character.

 

“These type of shows can be an eye-opener that showcases how wrong deeds lead to a sorry end. There is no escape for criminals. Sooner or later they all meet a violent death. Only thing is that while narrating one has to be careful that you don’t land up glorifying the crime.”

 

Popular TV actress Sara Khan too was seen in an episode where she plays a reserved and naïve girl who falls in love with a gangster. Unaware of his true identity, she marries him and after he is killed in an encounter, she becomes a dreaded gangster to avenge his death.

 

Commenting on her role, Sara says, “After a long time I have got to play an interesting character. I was very excited about portraying a gangste. It was like shooting for a movie.”