Neeraj Pandey, the renowned Indian filmmaker behind hits such as “A Wednesday,” “Special 26,” and “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story,” found unexpected success with his latest project, “Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web,” which topped Netflix’s global non-English charts. In a recent interview with Variety in London, Pandey revealed that he was not even aware of this category when he set out to create the crime thriller series.
The idea for “Taskaree” originated from a conversation between Pandey and his former assistant director Tinu Suresh Desai in 2021 or 2022. This led to an introduction to customs officer Sumit Sarkar, whose real-life experiences provided the foundation for the show. The series, co-written with Vipul K. Rawal and starring Emraan Hashmi in a unique role, took over a year to develop and was well-received by audiences worldwide.
Pandey’s success with streaming content extends to his anthology franchise “Khakee,” inspired by a meeting with IPS officer Amit Lodha. The series, which includes “The Bihar Chapter” and “The Bengal Chapter,” is set to continue with a third season based on another real-life police officer’s story.
Additionally, Pandey’s hit series “Special Ops,” initially conceived for Hotstar and later released on JioHotstar, has garnered a loyal following. The show’s prequel and second season have further solidified Pandey’s reputation for telling compelling stories on digital platforms.
While Pandey’s production company, Friday Storytellers, has excelled in the streaming space, he is now shifting focus back to theatrical releases. With a slate of five Hindi films planned for the next three years, including projects set for major global releases, Pandey remains optimistic about the industry’s future. He believes that 2026 will surpass 2025 in terms of box office performance and that audiences will return to cinemas in full force.
Pandey also emphasized the importance of diverse storytelling in Hindi cinema, noting that both big-budget and smaller, content-driven films have the potential to succeed. He praised the Malayalam film industry’s focus on storytelling and audience engagement as a model for the Hindi film industry to follow.
In a recent controversy surrounding his upcoming film “Ghooskhor Pandat,” Pandey faced backlash for the title’s perceived caste-related implications. The Supreme Court intervened, prompting Pandey to change the title and remove all promotional material.
As for future projects, Pandey remained tight-lipped about an upcoming biopic of composer Rahul Dev Burman. Despite the challenges and controversies, Pandey’s contributions to Indian cinema continue to shape the industry’s landscape, both on streaming platforms and in theaters.
