"This show is a gamut of emotions"

A strong man, with a strong will. He has made films that boldly projected the social biases in rural India. His films are known to have hit the audience hard. One of the few Indian filmmakers whose work has been acclaimed internationally, Ketan Mehta talks about Time Bomb, his next venture on television to Sapana Patil. You are associated with films that deal with social and political issues. What tempted you to direct an action thriller? I had made Pradhan Mantri for Zee TV three years ago. Time Bomb is an extension of that serial. It is not just an action thriller, it has a political backdrop with conspiracy to assasinate the Prime Minister and threats to global peace. Kay Kay played the Prime Minister in that show, so in Time Bomb too we cast him as the Prime Minister. Did the channel have a say in finalising the cast? No. Zee TV has given me the freedom to choose the cast. So how does Rajeev Khandelwal, known for soft mushy roles fit into the garb of an undercover intelligence officer? I wanted an action hero with a heart. Apart from that, I have full faith in the cast. They are good performers and give me hundred per cent. You have shot in four different countries. How much did you invest in the serial? (laughs) I have been told not to disclose the amount spent. But yes, it is a very big budget serial, probably the biggest on Indian television ever. Also, this is Zee's biggest serial. Who has worked on the special effects and what kind of special effects have you used? Maya Movies has worked on the special effects. In some cases, we have shot real explosions conducted at Film City. Clippings of the World Trade Center being demolished are original. What different shooting techniques have you implemented? We have used techniques to show simultaneity of events and multiplicity of happenings. We have used special techniques to show the feel and the pace of the time bomb ticking away to death. What feeling do you want the viewers to experience when they watch this serial? This show is a gamut of emotions. There is love, romance, passion, thrill, patriotism and deceit on this show. I expect the audience to be left with a bag of mixed feelings.