Exclusive! Delhi Crime actor Sanjay Bishnoi: We cannot just blame our daughters for everything; need to educate men to treat women with respect

Shefali Shah starrer, ‘Delhi Crime’ which premiered in the OTT space in 2019, has been honoured with the prestigious award for ‘Best Drama Series’ at the 48th International Emmy Awards on November 23, 2020. Directed by Richie Mehta, the story is based around the 2012 Nirbhaya case. This is also the first Indian web show to win an International award. The spin-chilling drama, also starred Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Bishnoi, Rajesh Thailang, Adil Hussain among others in pivotal roles.In the series, Sanjay portrayed the role of the victim’s friend as Akash. ETimes, got in touch with the actor to congratulate him on the historic win, and talk about his shooting experience for the web series. Here are excerpts from the conversation.

It has been an emotional journey. A lot of things have changed actually. After doing the show, I got to know a different perspective. What exactly must have happened,.. I understood the work of the police force especially in those 5 days of the actual incident. Not forgetting the other officers, how dedicated they were, and what they went through to crack the case. So, you are meant to be sympathising with the justice system also, though we always have complaints, I know that’s valid at some extent. But then, you also understand that as a society, we have to take responsibility and sometimes we are being too harsh on our system. You also learn to empathise from a different gender’s point of view.


Honestly, it had to be Yes; First of all, this was my first project. And as an actor who's auditioning all the time and if you stumble upon something like this, you cannot just let go of the opportunity.
I was very much aware of Richie's work, for the fact he is also an internationally renowned director and writer. Then the subject was so compelling in a sense, the moment I read the script, I was like, so descriptive, and when you have a good writing, you know, as an actor, this is the part, you’d be able to give your best. So, I was really excited and I was hoping that I get to do this. It wasn’t even a question of saying yes,…what if I don’t get it ? (Smiles)


Once I got the script, I understood, it was so well written in the sense.. everything was described and mentioned. Definitely, I read a lot of books, which Richie had suggested me. More than the research, the thing is, you have to connect with the sentiment of the story.
This is already a true story, right? So after you listen to all the interviews of the mother, and the material which is available on the internet, and how people feel, you just have to be really honest and sensitive about it and trust the director, then you are good to do. So that was the challenge and I tried to match up with that.


Yes. On the first day of the shoot itself, I got to know that we are planning to do a body shoot; Remember, both of them were thrown outside; they took their clothes also. So, initially it wasn’t working out with a representative structure, and the director on board wasn’t happy with the shot, So they said, we have to do it. So, the actors have to do it.
First when I heard that, okay, I mean, this is something challenging, but then you have to realise that the subject is bigger than you, it is not just about you getting a chance to be a part of a story, which is also important, but you can't think about yourself. We just did it in that cold winter night.

It was first shot of the series, when I was lying in the ditch. and Richie Mehta comes to me and says in my ears very slowly that, you know, the soul of ‘Jyoti’ is lying here. Me and my co-actor just burst out in tears at that moment, because it was so heartfelt. In terms of emotions, we were already in that place.
It completely moved me a way, when he said it. This also set the tone for me and my character, for the entire time. I realised, you know, what it means to women. This feels very empowering for any beautiful or great director to create a very secure and trusted atmosphere; an actor can only work in that sort of atmosphere where he is protected, and he's allowed to experiment.

I really liked it.I felt that we have to just can’t complain about our justice system and police, which, of course we need to do, you know at the same time, we have to be very, comprehensively look at it, okay we have a justice system which works slowly. But that's how it is right?
And rather than just complaining about this, we have to as a society, make it a point that we just don't blame our daughters, our sisters, for everything, (you should not wear this, you cannot do this or that) that kind of patriarchal thoughts are something, we really have to come out from, and tell the men of the society, to treat women with respect. So I really felt it that way.As a society, we need to encourage these conversations. The woman has to come forward, and a space has to be created for them.

I think, that’s a very irresponsible way of putting it out. I mean, you will never be able to address any issue. Like, I mean the first thing important to know, is this incident has happened.So we have to address it, and we have to address it in the right way. If we just hide it, nothing will change.
I mean, if you say that don't make anything on any incident, how do we create discussions. We have to talk about issues. We have to put them forward and we have to talk about them loudly as possible, but with sensitivity and respect. Richie was really very careful about making the series, he met the parents of Jyoti and took their permission, and they were very supportive in putting forward the story. Why not talk about these issues? These are realities of our society..if you hide it, they don’t disappear.


The only advice I can put forward, is that the system needs to be corrected, our system needs to understand the importance of the issue. I do not want to put pressure on individuals in that sense. Of course, we all need to feel safe and secure. We all need to be aware. But then why can't our system be that way ? That's what my point is, like, you know, in a capital city, at 8 o’ clock, if you're not safe, then the system needs to be corrected. The thought process needs to be discussed.