Director Karan D Kapadia says Hunkkaar: The Roar was shaped over nearly a year of writing, with the filmmaker and his team deliberately building a tense psychological world around a fight for justice.
Swati Bhat
The upcoming JioHotstar courtroom drama, directed by Karan D.Kapadia and Nitya Mehra, explores the trauma of sexual violence through an underdog story centred on a 17-year-old girl, an out-of-work lawyer and a first-time police officer.
Karan Kapadia reveals that the project began taking shape around the same period as Big Girls Don't Cry. After reading an article about the subject, he and Mehra felt it was a story that needed to be told. Development continued alongside Big Girls Don't Cry after the pandemic, eventually leading to the series going into production.
The writing process itself took close to a year. Karan Kapadia first developed the story before breaking it down with the writers into a detailed beat sheet. Individual writers then worked on episodes, after which Mr.Kapadia rewrote and refined the material through several rounds to arrive at the tone and psychological intensity he wanted. For Karan, however, the subject required a careful approach. He says the makers consciously stayed away from controversies surrounding religion, choosing instead to focus on the larger issue of sexual violence and the need for society to confront it collectively.
At the heart of the series, he describes, is a David-versus-Goliath struggle about people attempting to speak their truth despite overwhelming odds. That sense of vulnerability also shaped the show's visual language. Karan Kapadia cites filmmaker David Fincher as an influence in creating an atmosphere of paranoia, dread and psychological unease. The intention was not simply to make the series visually dark, but to make the audience experience something closer to the protagonist's state of mind.
From production design and lighting to staging and performances, the filmmakers worked towards creating an unsettling atmosphere that reflects the characters' psychological journeys. Mr.Kapadia also points to an aspect of sexual-violence cases that is often less visible in public conversations: the repeated reliving of trauma. Victims may have to recount their experiences to lawyers, judges and investigating officers and undergo further medical procedures, making the experience emotionally repetitive as well as deeply distressing.
The filmmaker says this psychological aftermath was central to the series because the story is not only about seeking justice, but also about understanding what the pursuit of justice can demand from those who have already experienced trauma.
Aneet Padda plays a key role in this emotional landscape. Kapadia says he was clear about casting the actor, having previously worked with her on Big Girls Don't Cry and on Nitya Mehra's short film Khatti Meethi Yaadein, which was released on Waves. Describing Aneet Padda as an "organic actor" and "method-oriented", Kapadia says she would immerse herself in the emotional state of her character before shooting difficult scenes. He particularly praises her ability to communicate through her eyes and says she often delivered crucial scenes within the first or second take.
Fatima Sana Shaikh, meanwhile, approached her police character through extensive preparation. According to Kapadia, she met investigating officers, spent time with police personnel and their families, and studied how officers approach their professional responsibilities.
Kapadia says the wider cast adopted a similarly immersive approach to their respective characters, helping the series maintain its psychological and emotional texture. Despite its dark subject matter, Hunkkaar: The Roar ultimately aims to leave audiences with a sense of resilience. Kapadia describes the story as a triumph of the human spirit, built around characters who appear to have very little power against an opponent with immense influence.
Produced by Birla Studios and Applause Entertainment in association with Priyanka Chopra Jonas' Purple Pebble Pictures and Mangata Films Production, Hunkkaar: The Roar is directed by Karan D Kapadia and Nitya Mehra. The courtroom drama is streaming on JioHotstar from September 25.
Rather than presenting justice as an easy victory, the series places its characters inside the fear, trauma and uncertainty surrounding the fight itself making hope, according to Kapadia, its most enduring idea.