With appropriate safety measures, shoot for ZEE5’s upcoming show ‘Naxalbari’ starts in Goa

ZEE5 has been trying to deliver wholesome entertainment to its viewers. Even during the pandemic, the video streaming platform continues to present fresh Original content – from films like Bamfaad, Ghoomketu and Chintu Ka Birthday to web series like Lalbazaar and most recently, Mafia. The OTT player now announced that shoots of some of its Originals have started / resumed, with units following and maintaining all the restrictions and safety guidelines that have been set. Naxalbari, one of the most awaited Originals, starring Rajeev Khandelwal has started shoot in Goa.

"Yes we have started shooting for Naxalbari here in Goa and we are doing as much as we can to follow the precautionary measures and SOPs on the set. It is always a great feeling to be back after a hiatus and meet and work with fellow crew members. The world has changed and we are very quickly adjusting and accepting the new normal. We are one of the few web series that have started shooting and hope that we are able to achieve success despite the challenging and a little hostile circumstances.”

“I am playing an STF agent in the web series and you need to embody that character because it has so much intensity to it. Sturdiness is a natural ask for it and keeping a moustache look is something that I have donned for the very first time. Hope the viewers approve of it. The bigger challenge is balancing sophistication with the right intensity, that has to be effortless. It is going to be a huge task for the director Partho Mitra. The most interesting part of shooting right now are the action scenes in the  dense jungles, in the rain with muck and slush all around. The friendly company of worms, birds and occasionally a few slithering reptiles adds to the fun and adventure. From dawn to dusk, it is a complete new experience in itself” said Rajeev Khandelwal on resuming Naxalbari shoot and his look in the web series.

The eight-episode action-packed series is a fictional account of the protagonist’s fightback against a red uprising. It is a race against time for Raghav (Rajeev Khandelwal) - a cop, who is up against all odds to save the day. An action-packed series that alternates between the dense jungles of Maharashtra and metropolitan cities which increasingly become hotbeds for the Naxal ideology.

The star cast includes Rajeev Khandelwal (Raghav), Tina Datta (Ketki), Sreejita Dey (Prakriti), Satyadeep Mishra (Pahan), Shakti Anand (Binu Atram) and Aamir Ali (Keswani) in prominent roles.

The show is directed by Partho Mitra and produced by GSEAMS (Arjun & Kartik).

Naxabari is slated to release later this year, exclusively on ZEE5.