The ensemble cast of Adeeb Rais’s anthology series Kaali Peeli Tales, which comprises Vinay Pathak, Soni Razdan, Gauahar Khan, Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo, Sharib Hashmi, Hussain Dalal, Priyanshu Painyuli, Sadia Siddiqui and Tanmay Dhanania, has finished shooting for the project.
The series, written and directed by Rais, will feature six short films covering “the essence of love, relationships, and life in Mumbai” and explore themes ranging from infidelity, open marriage, homosexuality, commitment phobia and divorce. The filmmaker has previously directed the short films Aunty Ji (2018) starring Shabana Azmi, Baatein (2020) starring Supriya Pilgaonkar, and the MX Player web-series Yeh Crazy Dil (2018) with himself, Zoa Morani and Lilette Dubey.
Speaking about his latest project, Rais said, “Each film has come from a very special place in my heart and has something unique to say. We haven’t shied away from touching upon a few important topics and showcasing some rather complex relationships through the films. Each of the films ends in an iconic Mumbai black-and-yellow (kaali peeli) taxi and that is a metaphor for the journey of life, which works as a common thread in each of the six films. Within the anthology, we’ve covered a gamut of emotions and showcased a mix of both relatable and slightly off-beat characters. There’s something for everyone to take home from this series."
Asked about his ensemble cast, Rais added, “Honestly, each of them is an actor I personally love and admire and wished to work with. The fact that they have a huge following is just an add-on. I have a personal equation with each of them and what connected them to the project was the purity in my intention behind telling each of the stories.”
“They have all been very kind and supportive and I couldn’t feel more grateful,” he continued. “I can also vouch that their fans are going to be very happy and satisfied with their performances. Figuring dates and logistics was a bit tricky at times, but eventually, things fell into place and it all feels really worth it. I’m currently enjoying my last leg of post-production and really excited to share our baby with the rest of the world. It's purely all heart.”
The makers are yet to decide the streaming platform on which Kaali Peeli Tales will be released.