MX Player’s Matsya Kaand is a riveting tale, which will keep you at the edge of your seats, promises RAVI KISHAN. By Christy Varghese

Everyone loves a good story that revolves around the ‘bad guy’. But when was the last time your paths crossed with such an engrossing tale? We can only speak for ourselves, and we have to confess it has been a long while since we came across one.

This is what went through our mind, as we watched the trailer for MX Player’s new series, Matsya Kaand, which releases today, as it played on loop at Le Meridien’s Conference Hall, as we waited for the cast, ahead of the promotional event for the show. In the past year, MX Player has acquired a good chunk of the OTT market, based on its USP — every show/ film on the platform can be streamed or downloaded for free.

At first glance, the show seems to be full of dialogue-baazi. While we could provide innumerable instances, the one that stands out is when Ravi Kishan, who seems to be playing a shifty policeman, is asked by his sidekick, “Sir, how are you able to sleep peacefully at night?” To which Kishan retorts, “A man can sleep peacefully on two occasions. The first is when he is in his mother’s womb; the second, at his funeral.”

We presume that should suffice, to say the least, to give you a sample of what you can expect from the show. As the show’s cast walk in, Kishan walks at the head, exchanging pleasantries with the customary, “Umeed hai aap sab theek hain.” (I hope you all have been keeping well.)

Kishan is accompannied by Zoya Afroz and Ravii Dubey, the protagonist. To those who might be unaware, Afroz won the title of Miss India International 2021 competing at the Glamanand Supermodel India contest and will represent India at the Miss International 2022 beauty pageant in Japan and was previously crowned as the second runner-up at Femina Miss India 2013.

Read on for excerpts of the interaction:

Could you please tell us more about the show and your characters?

We all are familiar how, with the rise of OTTs, most shows try to extend the storyline, just to keep a good story going.

Matsya Kaand seeks to break the norms in that regard. The first season of our show has just 11 episodes and I am glad I could ply my trade with such an extended role after a long hiatus. I believe it is the first time that all three of us would be seen in such roles and I am sure after watching the trailer that, while you are aware of the gist of the story, you would agree this is way different than the usual con man stories. The story, characters are based on some real incidences, prior to the demonetisation.

I play Officer Tejraj Singh, a cop who is adept at thinking like a criminal. Zoya is a magician, who has many tricks up her sleeve, apart from just her magic. And Dubey, well, he is the man of the moment. The mastermind behind every kaand in the show; need I say more?

How have you been able to keep up with work in addition to your commitments as the MP of Gorakhpur?

When I became an MP from Gorakhpur, people presumed I would not be acting during my tenure. And let me tell you, when I am in Gorakhpur, I do not sleep for more than 3-4 hours, the desire to serve my nation is to strong.

I fulfill my duties to the best of my capabilities but I cannot forget that acting is what made me. Every person I met, while carrying my duties, would ask me when is my next show/film be released. I remember crossing paths with Hema Malini ji in the Parliament and she told me that I should not stop acting, because that is my identity. I am glad that Matsya Kaand came my way during this time.

But let me assure you, while I keep up with my love for acting, I have not left my duties behind. I have made sure that everyone is aware of my whereabouts at all times. I thank Zoya and Dubey for adjusting with my hectic schedule.

And I almost forgot to tell you, even when I was not acting, I would practise my craft; I trained 300 children in the ways of theatre in Gorakhpur.

How difficult or easy was it, to get back to acting?

Acting requires a lot of discipline, and you just need to ask Dubey, who adopts numerous disguises throughout the series.

One might think that acting is fairly simple, but there is alot more to it than what meets the eye. I would sit in the vanity van with Dubey as the prosthetic make-up would be applied to his face, and he had to make peace with the fact that he could not eat, could not drink more than a couple sips of water every hour just to preserve the integrity of his prosthetics.