Sector 36 director Aditya Nimbalkar on Vikrant Massey’s performance, "Although he was nervous, he knew this is a role he could really sink his teeth into"

With Netflix’s Sector 36, based on the gruesome Nithari crimes, director Aditya Nimbalkar joins the ranks of the foremost contemporary filmmakers in India.Aditya is humble about his achievement. “I'm a hard worker and try to keep learning and continue to do so. I had a great script, great cast and crew and wonderful producers and Netflix, who backed and supported the film. And of course I owe a lot to my mentor Vishal Bhardwaj. I've learnt so much from him I cannot put into words. Bodhayan Roy Choudhary had written a great script. It was a unique take on the crime, which explored the mind of not only the cop as well as criminals. More than a ‘who done it’ it's a ‘how and why done it’. And I must thank Maddock Films for backing the project with full support, and trusting me to helm it. Truly great producing from their side by bringing the right people together to make the film.”Speaking of the pitch-perfect casting of Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal, Aditya said, “Vikrant knew of the script before I did... and he was very interested in playing Prem. When he and I spoke, although he was nervous, he also knew this is a role he could really sink his teeth into... and I had no doubt in my mind that he would perform it exceptionally well, so we decided to go on this journey together. Deepak sir was a suggestion by our casting director Anmol Ahuja and as soon as his name came up, we all jumped and asked him to call him. Deepak’s better known for his comic timing but he's also a wonderful dramatic actor and we knew he would be amazing.”The sequence where Deepak interrogates Vikrant is chilling. Explained the director, “We had a great scene on paper. It was long but we were also confident that if executed well, it can really be something special. Myself and Saurabh Goswami (cinematographer) planned out the scene in great detail with the actors. There was some improvisation but every nuance and reaction was discussed and planned beforehand and even on shoot, the treatment and execution was hard work and planning every detailed camera angle, movement, etc.Improvisation is great and must be done but planning and hard work is needed as a foundation. Also Sreekar Prasad (editor) worked his magic on the scene beautifully and ensured the drama unfolded just right.”The experience of making this movie has left Aditya shaken. “Very shaken and disturbed by the content and I was very anxious shooting some scenes too, but also we must be professionals and do what the film requires us to do. Sometimes, stories don’t have happy endings, some stories are tragedies... that's the harsh truth... Popular cinema has spoiled us and we think life will also have a happy ending, but for some people, it is not a happy ending... especially the victims and their family of any crime,” he said.Also Read: Sector 36 trailer preview: “On my deathbed, if I realize that I was able to make a positive impact on even 4 people through my work, I’ll die peacefully” – Vikrant Massey