My character in Shantit Kranti is trying for the Olympics, says Lalit Prabhakar

SonyLIV’s Marathi web-series Shantit Kranti is about three friends, Prasanna (Lalit Prabhakar), Shreyas (Abhay Mahajan) and Dinar (Alok Rajwade), who set out on a road trip to Goa to find answers to some questions. However, a twist occurs and they end up in an ashram.

About the unusual title, Lalit Prabhakar said it is relevant to the show. “Rarely will you find such a title," the actor said. "We wish to do a kranti [revolution] by achieving a lot of things, but at the same time we want shanti [peace]. To achieve this, we go through the grind. But how to achieve that and where do we get it? It is believed that we need to travel for this. But is it so? Can’t we solve that by just being at one place? All this is explored in the show.”

Shantit Kranti review: A compelling and refreshing take on changing dynamics of friendship

Speaking about his character Prasanna, he said, “He is a state-level swimmer trying to enter the Olympics. He is mature but at the same time mischievous. He has a specific type of humour. He is a trusted friend. This is very different from all the roles I have done so far.”

The trailer for Shantit Kranti shows the three actors having fun. Prabhakar said that was also the case on the sets. “We didn't feel the shoot was going on," he said. "We were shooting near Lavasa where there was no mobile network. Our shift was from 7am to 7pm. As you can’t use your mobile, you have no option but to keep chatting with one another and get involved.

“You will get to see this bonding in the show. I think it’s very important that it does. Only then will you be able to relate with everything and think about your friends and moments spent with them."

Referring to his co-stars, he said, "They are very good actors. Both have different ways of working. When you work with actors from different backgrounds and schooling, there is a lot of give-and-take.”

Shantit Kranti is directed by Sarang Sathaye and Paula McGlynn, known for the humorous and informative content they put out on their YouTube channel Bharatiya Digital Party aka BhaDiPa.

“Both are very understanding directors,” said Prabhakar. “Their way of working was systematic right from the day we did our first reading. The bonding which is visible in the trailer is a result of these two. They used to develop scenes with us while having fun. This was how the work got done. The tuning and bonding with the director always reflects [in the show].”

Recalling his own trips to Goa, Prabhakar said the one with director Paresh Mokashi and the cast of Chi Va Chi Sau Ka (2017) remains the most memorable. He played an urban youngster in that film.

The actor recently portrayed a historical character, Gopal Joshi, in Sameer Vidwans’s period film Anandi Gopal (2019). That same year he was seen as a mature young man in Vikram Phadnis’s Smile Please (2019).

Speaking about his criteria for choosing roles, Prabhakar said there is no set pattern: “And this is how I want it to be. Even I shouldn’t know what project I will be doing in the future. I keep trying to surprise and challenge myself. So if I see that challenge somewhere, I impulsively take a decision.”

Shantit Kranti is Prabhakar’s second web-series after The Raikar Case (2020), and his first in Marathi. He believes the difference between shooting for films and web-series is that in the latter, you need to be in character for long. “You also have more scope to develop the character," he said. "For example, if we do a second season of this show, I might find four more points about my character which would help me improvise.”

Prabhakar also stars in Aditya Sarpotdar’s zombie comedy Zombivli (2021), which has been ready for release for a while now, stopped only by the shutdown of theatres on account of the pandemic.

“This [situation] is challenging for everyone,” the actor said. “All we want is that our hard work should reach the people. And it should reach them in the proper way and people should also respond in a proper way. The situation right now is that things are in nobody’s control. So we can only wait.”

Prabhakar said he had shot for Shantit Kranti after completing Zombivli, but now the audience is seeing the web-series first. "I am excited about it," he said. "We are bringing something new and refreshing to people in such times. It will distract them and keep them entertained.”

Shantit Kranti was released on SonyLIV on 13 August.