Sayani Gupta starts our conversation with a disclaimer. “I haven’t watched seasons one and two,” says the actor, who has joined Delhi Crime’s upcoming third season. Before we can ask why, she explains that the self-built distance from the acclaimed series, led by Shefali Shah, has a deeper cause. “I haven’t seen season one because I still feel triggered. Everyone says it’s so well-done and well-researched,” she shares. The opening season, created by Richie Mehta, was based on the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case.
Two editions later, when director Tanuj Chopra, who is also Gupta’s friend, offered her the Netflix series, it was an opportunity to be a part of an important story. The icing on the cake? Working with friends. “Every time Tanuj and I spoke [about the character], we were on the same page. Plus, it was a long-time wish to work with Rasika Dugal, who is like my sister,” she smiles.
Our conversation then veers into the ongoing discourse about unregulated work hours in the industry. Gupta has worked 20 hours, even 22, at a stretch. She admits those were aberrations, but the norm isn’t too healthy either. “For actors, someone drives us to and back from the sets. Except maybe 10 people on set, everyone is commuting by public transport. A lot of them are taking trains at night that don’t run after 1 am. [So, how will they commute in case of overtime?] There is no weekly off sometimes; it’s exploitative.” She notes that one fundamental change is required — dismantling of the star system. “Actors in our country are undisciplined.
Men and women, irrespective, if you’re given a call time, come on time. The problem is the star system. So, we have to say, ‘You could be an actor, but you’re as important as the guy doing the clap.’ Everyone else suffers because people are coming four hours late.”