EXCLUSIVE: Did You Know Scam 1992 Was Rejected by Every OTT Platform? Hansal Mehta Reveals the Struggle
Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, starring Pratik Gandhi, became a huge hit after it released in 2020. But not many people know that the show was rejected by every OTT platform at first. In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, director Hansal Mehta opened up about the challenges he faced in getting the show made.
Hansal revealed that the show was first signed in 2017. It took almost 3 to 4 years to write, and they finally started shooting in August 2019. The show was released within a year.
He said,
“There was a lot of pressure because of the lockdown, and SonyLiv told us to release it quickly. Even SonyLiv was a new platform at the time. We made the show with full confidence and believed that any platform would take it because it was such a strong story. But to our shock, every OTT platform rejected it. They didn’t know who Pratik Gandhi was and weren’t interested.”
Hansal also mentioned how Sameer Nair from Applause Entertainment believed in the project when no one else did.
“Sameer could have chosen any big actor for the role, but I said I wanted Pratik Gandhi. He didn’t even hesitate and said yes. I also played some music composed by Achint — it was just a rough version — and Sameer liked it immediately. His creative instinct was sharp, and he trusted it.”
He added,
“Taking risks isn’t something you plan. It comes from your gut feeling, and Sameer trusted that feeling. That’s one of the main reasons why Scam 1992 became what it is today.”
Hansal also recalled a moment from the lockdown in 2020 when SonyLiv asked for his photo for the show. He didn’t even realize the show was going to be released on the platform. He texted Sameer, saying:
“Our show is going to SonyLiv? But no one even watches SonyLiv!”
Sameer responded by saying,
“This is the only platform that will give the show the love and care it deserves.”
At that time, the whole team was feeling low. Hansal had to cheer them up and reminded them of Sameer’s words. They completed the show on time, and as Hansal proudly said,
“The rest is history. I believe we created something truly historic in long-form storytelling.”
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