R. Madhavan Confronts Banking Corruption in ZEE5 Global Thriller ‘Hisaab Barabar’: ‘The New Indian Is an Empowered Person’

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Actor R. Madhavan takes on a heartless banking system in the financial thriller “Hisaab Barabar,” which is slated for release on the streaming service ZEE5 Global.

Last year, the movie that debuted at the International Film Festival of India, unfolds around an attentive railway ticket inspector. His unearthing of small banking inconsistencies propels him into a perilous journey uncovering deep-rooted corruption within the system.

Under the guidance of Ashwni Dhir, creator of “Office Office”, and in collaboration with Jio Studios and SP Cinecorp, the film features Madhavan alongside Neil Nitin Mukesh and Kirti Kulhari. The narrative delves into the strength of common people standing up against financial corruption within institutions. In this story, Madhavan embodies Radhe Mohan Sharma, a man who strives for accuracy in bookkeeping, finding himself at odds with powerful banker Micky Mehta (Mukesh), leading to an intense struggle for truth and justice.

The main idea of the story resonated deeply with Madhavan, who grew increasingly irritated by unwanted text alerts about minor bank transactions. “I began feeling uneasy,” he says to EbMaster, “because it seemed someone had the ability to manipulate my account balance at will.”

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The fundamental concept of the story strongly connected with Madhavan, who found himself growing more and more annoyed by unexpected text messages concerning minor bank transactions. “I started feeling uneasy,” he explains to EbMaster, “as it seemed someone had the power to alter my account balance whenever they wanted.

In my daily struggles, I find an echo of the movie’s broader messages concerning personal worth amidst systemic issues. As Madhavan puts it, this tale revolves around an ordinary person and the immense power they can harness when their beliefs are tested or their dignity is on the line. Hearing this, I instantly agreed to be part of this film.

For an actor who has been renowned for a quarter century, taking on the role of an everyday person presented some distinct hurdles. “It was difficult for me,” Madhavan admits, “to portray an ordinary individual, to appear vulnerable, to embody him after being a celebrity for 25 years.” He explains that he needed to delve deep and avoid any hint of heroism in his performance, striving instead to keep the character as authentic as a real person would be without resorting to heroic actions.

The actor attributes Dhir’s mentorship for shaping his acting role: “His ‘Office Office’ series is truly iconic,” he remarks. “While filming in Delhi, I witnessed firsthand the immense love and respect people had for him. Therefore, I eagerly followed his instructions and played my character as he directed me.

Experiencing the unique challenges during filmmaking amidst Delhi’s post-COVID landscape, I encountered significant logistical hurdles while capturing scenes at bustling railway stations. Yet, these busy public spots unexpectedly offered moments of validation. As twilight fell and we began our night shoots, crowds as large as 500 people would gather, their emotions deeply engaged by the story unfolding on screen before them.

In the movie, Madhavan mentions a particular moment when the protagonist and antagonist face off in broad daylight at the bustling night market. He recalls how captivating it was to witness everyone whipping out their phones, engaging in discussions about the hero’s claims that the villain’s actions were fraudulent. The crowd seemed to take part in the conversation, which Madhavan had never seen before and found incredibly inspiring – a truly memorable experience.

The movie arrives at a point when India’s global impact is swiftly growing, a topic that echoes throughout the storyline. As Madhavan puts it, “When I mention ‘new India,’ I’m also referring to ‘the new Indian.’ The new Indian is an extremely empowered individual. Their image worldwide has transformed. Indians are now in significant roles and influential nations and platforms, which gives them a fresh identity. And with this new identity comes newfound power.

In his view, as our national identity continues to develop, it also brings heightened accountability. He expresses that there’s an expectation for us to embody the exceptional intelligence and compassion that others attribute to Indians, so we should strive to uphold our civic duties and social responsibilities… Every small action we perform serves as a representation of our country as a whole.

Madhavan experienced a remarkably prolific phase, finishing nine films in the last two years. This is quite a leap from his earlier pace of four films over a span of twelve years. His future works are diverse, encompassing various languages and genres. These include “Sankaran” with Akshay Kumar and Ananya Panday, Tamil-language drama “Test” alongside Nayanthara, Siddharth, and Meera Jasmine, as well as “Adhirshtasaali,” “Bridge,” “De De Pyaar De 2,” “Aap Jaisa Koi,” and “Dhurandhar.

Renowned for his detail-oriented acting techniques, Madhavan has crafted a noteworthy career in both Tamil and Hindi cinema over the last 25 years. He first gained prominence in Tamil romantic films before transitioning successfully into Bollywood while maintaining a significant presence in both industries. His directorial debut “Rocketry” underscores his growing creative aspirations. The actor takes great care to preserve linguistic accuracy throughout his bilingual career. As he puts it, “I’m very specific about my accents not blending.” “As a Tamil actor,” he continues, “I strive to avoid introducing Hindi elements into the Tamil language. And as a Hindi actor, I don’t want any trace of Tamil in my Hindi. To achieve this, I make sure to thoroughly memorize all my lines… This allows me the freedom to perform as I wish.

In “Hisaab Barabar,” his meticulous approach is evident. He ensures precision even during demanding numerical scenes, like the one-shot sequence without edits. This attention was crucial for the character’s credibility: if he claims proficiency in numbers and passion for the subject, any errors or multiple cuts would undermine the effort to create a believable character.

The film will stream from Jan. 24 in the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages on ZEE5 Global.

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2025-01-17 17:17