'I LOOK FOR STORIES THAT DON'T ALLOW ME TO SLEEP'

'It just so happens that some amazing, truelife stories come my way.

From his cookery show Khana Khazana to Scam: 1992 and now Scoop, Hansal Mehta has come a long way.

As Scoop continues to get raves, Hansal tells Subhash K Jha, "These are exciting times, and I'm glad to be a part of them."

Did you expect this kind of appreciation once again after Scam?

Scam 1992 released during the pandemic, at a time when we had lesser content for consumption.

Its phenomenal success gave many of us a new life and so much to be thankful for.

But to live on those laurels and to expect a repetition of the same is delusional, something I believe I'm not.

Also, we are in a post-pandemic world. A lot more content and some amazing work is happening all around me.

In this climate, it feels fantastic to see this success.

When did you start work on Scoop?

We began working on Scoop much before Scam's shoot was completed.

Just like I am unfazed by failure, I try to be less affected by success.

I get up in the morning, go to work and just want to keep working.

I took a short break around the release of Scoop to keep myself away from expectations and, of course, the anxiety that precedes a release.

But seeing its success and the amount of appreciation it is garnering, I feel relieved and of course, vindicated.

Why vindicated?

Vindicated for the choices I've made and the path I'm choosing.

What gravitated you towards Jigna Vora's story? At what point of time, did you decide to make a series on her trauma?

The producers of the show Matchbox Shots shared Jigna's book with me in 2020.