In a glowing review of the new series, Richie Mehta talks about his journey through crime in Delhi and beyond | exclusive

I was confused: did this happen today? I called the NGO that introduced him, the Wildlife Trust of India. They told me that the Kerala Forest Department, with the support of other government agencies as well as WTI, conducted the largest ivory raid in Indian history that day in Delhi, following a year-long investigation into the country’s largest wildlife smuggling ring. And I figured they would send me this shot because it was the day of my shoot!

What was your reaction to this unexpected discovery?

I was amazed. I have always loved elephants and cared deeply about wildlife conservation, but passively, from afar. And I knew Google would never show me that because it was a crime scene. But I told the person at WTI – her name is Divya Bhardwaj – that I couldn’t use that footage for this documentary, but if I had a few years, I would go back and try to understand the whole case and the issues surrounding it and do a full piece on it. [The Amazon Prime Video series] is the result.

Did you drop that commitment to focus on crime in Delhi?

In the first episode delhi crimeI have a scene where Rasika Dugal’s character discovers ivory from a random traffic stop – it was meant as a note for me to work on this ivory thing next. then delhi crime Released in 2019, I began to study this and as I did so, its importance grew day by day. I realized that this was not just about saving elephants from being killed, but about dozens of issues, from our relationship with all other life on Earth, to indigenous peoples and how they are integrated (or segregated) into society, to the law. Jungles really are (both natural and paved) and how they are ingrained in us. I realized that this story is about everything that is dear to me.

Does your interest in eco-destruction have a history?

I have always respected our natural environment and my happiest childhood memory is playing in the woods where I grew up in the suburbs of Toronto. Also when I was researching delhi crimeI went through the trauma of that urban experience, but when I was shooting it, it was a more scientific process to execute my vision, so it wasn’t as emotionally draining because I’d already been through the worst part of it when I was studying. on the details of the crime. But then, something happened.

One day while filming, I heard about the death of the last northern Kenyan white rhinoceros, which effectively meant that the subspecies was already extinct. When I heard this, I was tired and felt a lot of pain because of this news. I knew we had caused the extinction of an entire species, I just didn’t realize it. And I was surprised how deeply it affected me. Then I made a promise to myself that if I could do another project delhi crimeThat I would switch from asphalt jungle to organic.

The characters in your new show are just as deeply committed to eco-conservation, yet flawed in their own way. Do you care about their flaws as much as their passion?

absolutely. This is what makes them relatable and what makes their idealism more accessible. Superheroes have superficial flaws, but real heroes have very real flaws that can destroy them. This is a story about real unsung heroes trying to do the right thing while fighting issues that affect us all.

How did you all land on this flawless cast Nimisha Sajayani Does the actress who plays Aruku feel like she was born to play them?

Mukesh Chhabra and his casting team brought me to our cast. Nimisha was his suggestion and after I questioned him, I realized he was right. She effortlessly portrayed Mala as soon as she uttered her first lines, even taking her in directions I never expected. Aruku (Suraj Pops) is also a perfect example. Mukesh’s team, led by Sanjay Bishnoi, knows me and my style very well and my brief is always the same – I’m not looking for someone to play a character, but to be them.

Do you think Delhi Crime has become the sholay of your career?

I guess that’s not my reasoning at this point because it’s the last project I’ve finished and really, as I’m doing this interview, the last thing I’ve published. So the jury is out [the new show]. But I will say this delhi crime It was a project where I had a lot of faith in the script and the cast, but for everything else, we were kind of going back in the dark and hoping it all made sense, using whatever skills the team had to come up with. It was my first attempt at long form and my first attempt at a deeply researched story inspired by the truth. The result surprised me, perhaps, as well as the audience.

Your new show is a much more closed-off and immersive project, intentionally avoiding lightening up a heavy-handed situation?

If you compare, then yes, I did not need to intensify the darkness delhi crime, just reflect. with [this], it’s about conveying how serious these crimes are—that’s part of the point of the series, so it meant making sure the characters’ views were tonally reflected throughout. The stakes are literally the world [in the Amazon Prime Video series]. Like I said, humor permeates everything I do, I can’t help it. So the humor is there throughout the show despite the seriousness.

Ecoconservation doesn’t seem to bother civilization as much as it should. Do you think your series can expand the scope of concern on this topic?

That’s my great hope, and by seeing people risk their lives to preserve this, I hope that people will connect the dots between what drives these people and why it’s relevant to all of us. I also hope that people will be inspired – wildlife crime fighting is a very cool profession!

A broader question: Do you think cinema has the power to change society? Your two series seem to suggest that it can.

I believe it has the power to change an individual, which I can personally attest to. And if I can change myself, I know others can too.

Are you working on the future?

I’m really… researching!