Blessing to have Shriyam Bhagnani as co-star in City Of Dreams 2, says Ankur Rathee

The second season of Nagesh Kukunoor's political drama web-series City Of Dreams, which explores a power struggle between a father and his daughter, introduces two new characters played by Ankur Rathee and Shriyam Bhagnani. The new entrants play a couple engaged to be married.

Rathee, who has been in projects like Thappad (2020), Undekhi (2020) and Taish (2020) recently, opened up on the experience of working with Kukunoor.

"I have yet to discover a more symbiotic relationship with a director," the actor said. "There were many instances when I would finish a take and suddenly be struck with an idea. And I would notice Nagesh sir walking over to me. He would have already picked up on my creative impulse. A mind-reader!

"I would begin explaining the idea and he would finish it. Sometimes he would utter only a few words and I would immediately know his train of thought. Few words. He didn’t want to intellectualize the emotional space with too much conversation. He would give just enough direction so that I could run with the idea and make it my own. I felt like clay."

Rathee was also all praise for co-star Bhagnani. “Honesty and humility are so crucial for any actor, and Shriyam was beaming with both in our scenes together," he said. "There is a gentle earnestness in her eyes, which occasionally even diminished my need for a vivid imagination to get into character. A simple look into her innocent gaze would transport me into the scene and evoke the required vulnerability. It’s a rarity and blessing to find that in a co-actor."

Bhagnani, who is known for her roles in Baaghi 2 (2018) and Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018), plays the fiance of Rathee's character in the web-series. Sharing a screen with him was fun for her. "There is never a dull moment around him," the actress said. "He has a switch that goes off once the director says cut and suddenly he is a child on set.

"He is very supportive and will stay behind for the reaction scenes even when he isn't supposed to and that’s what makes him such an amazing co-actor," she continued. "Even after doing so many projects, he comes on set fresh as ever with so much curiosity!”

For Bhagnani, working on City Of Dreams (Season 2) was one of the best professional experiences of her career, for which she credits director Kukunoor. "There is so much to learn and absorb on his sets — from an amazing crew to the set design, to the script, everything reads out a passion for filmmaking," she said.

"He has this undying focus and clarity of thought while working, which I find extremely inspiring," she gushed. "He knows exactly what he wants from a scene, making the actor’s job very easy. People call directors the captain of the ship, and he truly was in every sense the best captain one could start off on this journey with.”

City Of Dreams (Season 2) sees Atul Kulkarni and Priya Bapat returning as father-daughter duo Ameyarao and Poornima Gaikwad. Disney+ Hotstar began streaming the second season on 30 July.