Aamir Bashir has been absolutely spectacular in the recently released ‘School Of Lies’. He was back onscreen after a long time, and his performance was worth the wait. Meanwhile, he has also been writing scripts and directing. He has also been one of the very few who jumped onto the OTT bandwagon quite early in its initial days in India.
Talking to Prateek Sur, Aamir Bashir opens up about ‘School Of Lies’, the child psychology behind the show, his work on OTT, the downside of this digital boom, his moving away from films, and his upcoming film with Karan Johar. Excerpts from the candid chat:
‘School Of Lies’ – The name itself is quite intriguing. Was it always ‘School Of Lies’ or was it changed? Has it changed over the course of making the show?
There have been a couple of other titles that were in use before production and during production. I guess it has changed a couple of times, but I think they found the right one.
The story is all about mystery and you can't give us a lot, but still, tell us a bit, what is the series about and what is the character that you're playing?
The series has so much in it, but it's mainly about childhood and childhood experiences, boarding school, boarding school experience and childhood trauma. It's basically taking a look at a boarding school, people in their formative years and their experiences and the kind of effect it has on the children and their families and the people around them and the teachers, I'm playing one of the teachers and I also happen to be an ex-student from the same school. So it's almost like we are talking about generational experiences, generational trauma in that sense, because my story is kind of also interlinked with what is happening today. So yeah, that's in a nutshell what it is all about. And me as an ex- student and as a teacher mentor for the current lot that are studying there.
The show dwells into the psyche of school students and how far their minds can think. In your personal life have you had an experience where you were totally left shocked or surprised by what a little kid did?
I guess that's why people have children and they want to be surprised every single day by them. I can't think of, like, one incident. But of course, children are there to surprise you by their curiosity, by their questions, by just being there. It's almost like if you have your own children. It's like you know life is mirroring you in some ways, but it's also surprising you and I guess it gives you the motivation to keep getting surprised by your child. I think the problem arises when you kind of try to live your own unfulfilled aspirations through the child. Until then, everything is fine.
OK, are there things that you learned about child psychology through the meeting of the show?
I'm not sure. I think it is one thing. I mean, not that I could think of, not through the show so much, but it's something that is a lot more popular and a lot more is known about child psychology now than it was, for example, when I was a child or you know, say for my parents' generation, they didn't know much, but now I think what we call the Gen. Z is pretty much aware of child psychology and mental health and all these things and which I think is a very good thing, which I think we are. Our parents' generation did not have these tools when it came to nurturing and parenting their children. So that has changed a lot now and that's a good thing.
The show promises to take inspiration from real-life incidents before you read the script of the show. Were you aware of such incidents in real life? Or did you get to know of these incidents while reading the scripts or researching for the show?
I'm sure there are some that are inspired by real life, but there are also things that you will probably find in most boarding schools. You will also find the common theme of these institutions kind of burying these incidents because they don't want their reputations to be tarnished or whatever. But the fact of the matter is that all kinds of things happen when you have 3-4, five, 600, young, young souls confined in what is mostly it's almost like prison life because it's all very regimented and all so there is bound to be some eruptions and it's like that, So, those things are common, it's not necessarily inspired from.
You've been doing shows on OTT for quite some time now. How have things changed now with OTT? Do you find a change in the scripts coming to you with this OTT boom in India? Is there any downside to this OTT boom?
The problem with a boom or the problem with it is a problem of plenty so which means quality seems to suffer whenever you have too much of something. In that sense, I think it is, unfortunately, heading towards what television serials were like and the kind of time, press hard and budgets I am afraid that those are becoming more like TV projects. The novelty is gone and people are falling into their own habits of cutting corners and things like that. Also, in terms of the quality of the content, it’s not possible to maintain that level if you have so much happening at the same time. The downside of it is the overload of shows as there is so much content being produced. I don’t think that there is so much demand and human need that people can’t survive without having like 500 shows coming out every year.
You’re not doing that many films nowadays. Any particular reason for moving away from films?
I am not moving away from either. I see what is being offered and how much I am moved by and if I am moved enough and if I don’t then I don’t.
You’ve also directed a couple of films like ‘Harud’ and ‘The Winter Within’. What do you love more – acting or directing?
I love both. Directing is a lot more gratifying. I also write scripts that I direct and I am also involved in production from start to finish. It is your baby. I can’t do one without the other as my acting is also based on my filmmaking.
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Do we get to see you get back to the director’s chair anytime soon?
Since it took around 10 years to make my second film so I only hope it would be sooner than that.
What’s next on the acting front after ‘School Of Lies’ do we get to see you in?
I am doing Karan Johar's next film which should be out in July I think.
