What happens when a group of friends, who once shared simple dreams, find themselves making questionable decisions after getting a taste of money? This is the premise of Chaar Yaar, director Vinay Waikul's latest series, which takes viewers back to the early 2000s, when the lure of quick money begins changing the lives of four young boys.
In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the filmmaker spoke about the nostalgic experience of creating the show. He wanted to capture the atmosphere of the early 2000s and show how life gradually became more complicated during that period. However, the friendship at the heart of the story had a personal connection for him. Waikul revealed that the four characters were inspired by his own friendships and the people he grew up with.
"Those friendships actually are there for life. So, these four friends, I mean, I had these other three friends, and we were just a very close unit. And somewhere, the characters which we created were coming from my real-life experiences, my real friends," he shared.
The director also explained that the decisions made by the four boys reflected the realities of growing up in a middle-class neighbourhood during a time of economic transformation. Money was becoming increasingly visible, aspirations were evolving, and the ways in which people made their fortunes were not always a major concern.
At a time when recognisable faces often help attract viewers to OTT platforms, Waikul decided to focus on finding actors who suited their characters rather than relying on star power. He revealed that the casting team auditioned approximately 45-50 actors, including several familiar faces, before selecting the four boys.
However, the real challenge came when the shortlisted actors were brought together. Waikul wanted to determine whether they could naturally recreate the camaraderie that formed the foundation of the story.
"These boys first came in individually; we did auditions with them and tested their skills. And once the shortlist happened, we put all four of them in the same room and gave them the situations, and they started playing those parts. And that energy was something very special," he recalled.
According to the filmmaker, casting a popular actor might make it easier to attract initial attention, but keeping viewers invested requires convincing characters and performances. He explained, "A famous actor can help the series in terms of getting the eyeballs, but I think that is only just getting the eyeballs. Beyond that, if the series has to work, the characters will have to work, and the actors need to be very true to the characters," he said.
Vinay Waikul with Rajesh Tailang.
The casting exercise was just the beginning of the process. Waikul revealed that the four actors developed a close friendship within the first week of workshops. The team also took them out onto the streets and introduced them to practical activities associated with their characters, including learning how to jump-start and open a car.
Working with a younger group of actors also turned into a learning experience for the filmmaker. He said the project helped him reconnect with a generation whose lifestyles, interests and challenges were quite different from his own. Waikul added that the experience made him feel nearly 10 years younger.
For viewers wondering whether the story of the four friends could continue, the director has not ruled out another season. When asked about the possibility of a second instalment, he responded with a laugh, "Oh, we would love to. That's the world I would love revisiting and deep-diving into it and figure out if this whole experience has put some sense in their heads or whether they're still greedy about the money."
Despite the show receiving mixed reviews, Waikul appears to have a straightforward approach towards criticism. He said he reads reviews carefully and respects the people writing them, but does not allow them to influence his creative decisions.
"I read them very diligently, and I ignore them completely," he said with a laugh.
He added that critics are also performing their professional duties and assess projects according to their understanding of cinema and the kind of content they watch. However, he believes there can be a considerable difference between what critics expect and what audiences enjoy.
"But I guess there's a huge gap between what the critics want versus what the audience wants. And I am very clear that the work which I do, it needs to entertain myself and it needs to entertain the audience," he said.
Streaming on Prime Video, Chaar Yaar features Prayrak Mehta, Saqib Ayub, Purav Jha, Naman Jain and Sai Tamhankar, among others.
