Updated: December 24, 2020, 10:31:03 PM
Sandwiched Forever is streamed on SonyLIV.
SonyLIV’s latest web series, Sandwiched Forever, follows the story of the newlyweds Sameer (Kunaal Roy Kapur) and Naina (Ahaana Kumra). Their lives turn upside down when their respective parents become their neighbors and meddle in everything from food to home decor preferences. The series with Zakir Hussain, Divya Seth Shah, Atul Kulkarni and Lubna Salim promises a humorous interpretation of modern Indian families.
Kunaal seems to be at his best in the Rohan Sippy series. For him, the format of the sitcom is unique and each character has been etched well. Although he’s returned to the comedy genre after successful stints on series like Bandish Bandits and TVF Tripling, Kunaal doesn’t mind playing comedic roles repeatedly. He tells indianexpress.com why he’s ready to do comedy forever and what attracted him to Sandwiched Forever.
Sandwiched Forever seems like a very strange title. How do you think it justifies the theme of the show?
The title is justified based on the situation this couple finds themselves in. They set out to lead a life of their own and be that nuclear family, only to find they were sandwiched between their two parents. They thought they’d live life on their own terms and have their own space, their own house, but that’s what impressed them. That’s why Sandwiched Forever.
How did you get on board? What was so appealing about the series?
There are a couple of things. One thing is that the format is very unique. They do it all the time overseas with shows like Big Bang Theory, Friends and Seinfeld where they rehearse for a few days and then they play it in front of a live audience. It’s pretty much shot live in front of a live audience, and Sandwiched Forever was intended to do so. But unfortunately, when we were just about to start, coronavirus and the lockdown hit. Then we had to pick it up a few months later without the live audience, but the format stayed the same: rehearse it and shoot it in flux. All the actors that are part of it have theater experience, and I think that was a huge draw because to do this format you need people with slightly different skills. Then the characters we created had their own kind of quirks and strong character traits. What ultimately appealed to me was the well-etched characters, a unique setup and format that we haven’t explored enough in India.
And what was it like shooting in the midst of the pandemic? Was it a challenge?
It was very challenging. Of course we had to drop the idea of the live audience. Still, so many people were together in a closed environment. So the Sony team set up a separate agency whose only job was to make sure everyone was following COVID-19 protocols. Every prop we were given, every costume, everything we interacted with has been refurbished. Still, it was difficult to work in this environment. The actors were still without a mask during filming, but the poor makeup artist and hairdresser had to be on the PPE set. In such a situation where people look like astronauts around you, being creative, productive, free and fluid is not the easiest thing to do. Everyone was tense.
Ahaana Kumra and Kunaal Roy Kapur in Sandwiched Forever.
You are married too. Do you also feel that married couples are caught between their parents? Can you relate to the show
Everyone went through this. I don’t think there’s a married couple who hasn’t seen how it gets stuck between their parents, or what the father-in-law wants, or what the mother-in-law wants, or what the husband wants, or what the wife wants. This dynamic happens every day in every house. It played at home too, of course, and they’re small, trivial things. I think that’s how people get in control of one another by getting them to do what they want. So that’s what the show relies on.
Recently, web series audiences have been dominated by crime thrillers. Worried about Sandwiched Forever cutting the chord?
I agree that there are a lot of things out there that are dark, gritty, and harsh. But that stuff doesn’t get a voice on a regular TV. That’s why we had this sudden outbreak of such things on the digital medium. It is important and great that such content is created and things just get more sophisticated over time. Comedy, however, was more of a TV thing. I don’t think we have a lot of comedy on OTT platforms. And due to the lack of such a simple comedy on OTT platforms, I hope Sandwiched Forever works.
You were loved in the comedy field. Do you feel like you end up focusing on it again because it’s like a safe space for you?
No, it’s just the stuff that I’m offered. Everything I am offered is in the comedy section. Even with my comedic characters, I try not to just make them comic fluff. I try to give them some depth and they have some resonance and relevance to the story. While my character may be weird, he’s definitely an important part of the plot and the whole story. I really enjoy playing these characters, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only thing I have to offer. Of course I would like to do more drama and maybe play an antagonist. But to be honest, I’m lucky enough to do what I love to do and make a living from it. So I am not complaining. If I never get a serious role in my life and just get comedy, I’ll be fine as I still get work.
Kunaal Roy Kapur in tripling. (Photo: YouTube)
You were among the first to explore the digital medium. What do you think of its growth?
The growth of the OTT platforms was inevitable. Since almost everyone has access to the internet, it is getting bigger and bigger. However, I feel like the lines are blurring. The line between the quality of OTT content and the content in movies is now almost blurred. Even web shows have film-level production. Nobody saves budget. The focus is now on the material. Money is spent on the right areas. This is why the opportunities for good actors at OTT have grown so dramatically in recent years. Everyone is not just waiting for these film opportunities now. You can show all your talent on one OTT platform and I think that’s wonderful.
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