Ajay Devgn’s digital debut series Rudra: The Edge of Darkness has garnered massive appreciation from critics and audiences alike. The Hotstar special has recorded the highest viewership received for any drama.
One of the main takeaways from the series was the twisted chemistry between Ajay Devgn’s character Rudra and Raashii Khanna’s character Aliyah. Their path crosses with a crime and it went on to become an unexplainable relationship.
Talking about how he went out planning to direct Rudra and Aliyah chemistry, Rajesh Mapuskar shared,” It’s a tricky one, this equation and I’ve been fascinated with it from the start. Both actors have tremendously value-added to the written lines with their own interpretations. Aliya’s character is more volatile, about action and physical activity while Rudra is more stable, steady, deep. But they found themselves in their pauses. These pauses were very important for me. The chemistry lies not in what they say but in their silences – when they don’t speak, and just look at each other and she waits for his next words or move.”
The seamless chemistry has been creating a lot of buzz, Rajesh tells us about how did the two actors seamlessly showcase such twisted chemistry on screen, “They’re both extremely intelligent and talented actors. Along with getting under the skin of their characters, they have each drawn from a part of themselves. In addition, Sanjay Memane’s cinematography created the frames and backdrop to this contradictory, complicated relationship. And, most importantly, Antara Lahiri’s editing ensured there was an impact. It was a delicate balance to maintain – but she has done a wonderful job of holding onto the silences, the looks. The drama of the chemistry is in that.”
The director defines the relationship between the two, as “Yin and Yang. Sometimes she’s Yin, he’s Yang, sometimes the reverse. Essentially, they’re connected to each other and complement each other. They become more interdependent as the series progresses, and more overlaps happen in the Yin and Yang. Black bleeds into White, White into grey – in each of them.”
