The phrase ‘one by two’ gains a chilling new dimension when delving into the plot of ‘Killer Soup’. This new Netflix series, to be released on January 11, boasts of a powerhouse star cast with Manoj Bajpayee and Konkona Sensharma leading the ensemble. The narrative ominously weaves its storyline from a thread of true events. In a startling case from 2017 in Telangana, a woman was convicted of murdering her husband and subsequently disguising her lover in her late husband’s identity. The cover was ultimately blown due to an inadvertently mismatched preference in soup – an unassuming bowl of mutton soup became the undoing of the criminals, who were ironically spurred by the 2014 Allu Arjun film ‘Yevadu’, a movie about identity swapping that inadvertently served as their real-life script.
During a conversation with The Hindu, both Bajpayee and Sensharma reflected on their professional journey, the process behind comedic acting, and the detrimental focus on box-office figures that has gripped Indian cinema. Here are some highlights from the interview.
When asked about her experience with her co-star Manoj Bajpayee, who intriguingly pulls off a double role in ‘Killer Soup’, Konkona stated how different it felt interacting with him as the distasteful businessman Prabhakar versus the endearing masseur Umesh. The nuance was in Umesh pretending to be Prabhakar, which made her navigate complex emotions as an actress.
The surprising aspect of this venture was that despite their prolific careers, Bajpayee and Sensharma had never worked together before. Both the actors expressed their mutual admiration and gratitude towards director Abhishek Chaubey for bringing them together for this project. Bajpayee, in particular, lauded Sensharma for her exceptional talents in both acting and directing, citing her directorial work ‘A Death in the Gunj’ and her contribution to ‘Lust Stories 2’.
When queried about the mindset of an actor in a crime comedy like ‘Killer Soup’, Bajpayee emphasized the delicate balance between reality and comic timing, while Sensharma’s approach was more intuitive, focusing on her character’s motivations within the scene which naturally led to the humor.
A poignant point in their discussion was the focus on box-office figures, which Manoj Bajpayee criticized as being harmful to the craft and culture of Indian cinema. He pointed out that this fixation on numbers is not just industry talk, but a language that has permeated among general audiences. He highlighted the struggles of small filmmakers who create exceptional work yet are overshadowed by the current system that is obsessed with gross collections.
Sensharma shared this sentiment on box-office conversations, indicating she prefers to stay disconnected from discussions centered on financial performance, and expressed concern over the general public’s growing preoccupation with such matters, which originated with the 100 crore club trend.
With ‘Killer Soup’, Manoj Bajpayee and Konkona Sensharma are set to deliver a unique blend of humor, intensity, and drama, underpinned by a story that echoes true crime in a way that is both startling and contemplative. The series invites viewers to challenge their perceptions, laugh through unexpected situations, and confront the reality of the ever-evolving narratives within the Indian film industry.
