Universe like Special Ops demands scale and visual appeal, says Neeraj Pandey

Disney+ Hotstar and Friday Storytellers’ upcoming series Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story brings back Kay Kay Menon’s character in an interesting way, examining the events that shaped the agent before Special Ops (2020) began.  

The series has been directed by Neeraj Pandey, along with Shivam Nair. Pandey, who has written films like A Wednesday (2008), Special 26 (2013) and Baby (2015), knows a thing or two about helming thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat.

This time around, Special Ops 1.5 was also filmed in scenic international locations such as Ukraine and Mauritius. The show has been shot over a month-long schedule.

Speaking about choosing the right locations, Pandey said, “A universe like Special Ops demands scale and visual appeal to bring it to life. Since the narrative spans different time zones and geographies, locations play a key role in the overall storytelling. International locations like Mauritius and Ukraine not only add visual appeal but are also extremely key to the script.”

Menon is joined by a cast that includes Aftab Shivdasani, Gautami Kapoor, Vinay Pathak and Parmeet Sethi in the spy thriller which will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar on 12 November.