Guess Who – This Show’s Makers Had A Strained Relationship

Rajeev Masand has published a blind item in Open The Magazine about the makers of a show who had a strained relationship owing to creative differences.

Creative differences are common when it comes to filmmaking or making a web series. This leads to ego clashes between the actor-director or director-producer. Generally, it is observed that the bigger celebrity wins. Even in the case of a recently released web series the director – a globally renowned auteur won.

We wonder what is up with the personal life of the lead actor of the series. She was rumored to be in a relationship with the brother of a megastar. He is a married man. He parted ways with his business partner, because he fell in love with his partner’s sister. The partner’s family did not approve of the match. The megastar’s brother eloped with his partner’s sister & got married. His career has since been spiralling downward. But unlike his other brother, his wife didn’t leave him. Instead, he is the one who has been cheating on his wife.

Blind Item

A prestige show has just dropped on a major streaming service, and from the united front they’re putting up it would seem like everything’s in order. The satisfied smiles, the spiel in the media that it was a happy but hardworking set, the exchange of flattering messages on social media—who would think anything was amiss? But those who’ve worked on the show and those that have knowledge of what’s gone on behind the scenes talk about a troubled production, frequent clashes between the showrunner and creator, and a set in disarray.

The project was reportedly birthed by a prominent writer of acclaimed films, skilfully adapting a difficult book. No wonder this heavyweight international filmmaker signed up as creator for the show, committing to direct a clutch of episodes and putting a personal stamp on the series’ look and feel. The writer was roped in as showrunner, and everyone believed the project was off to a flying start.

Trouble, however, started brewing when the creator’s vision reportedly clashed with the showrunner’s—both strong personalities, both opinionated professionals. Their relationship is believed to have become so strained they were not on talking terms by the third week into the shoot, and the crew and cast were expected to take sides.

Eventually a senior executive from the service flew in and held a meeting between the two, hoping to seek a truce. But things had escalated too fast, too soon, and there was no question of either willing to accommodate the other’s vision. The executive then spoke to key crew members and actors, and armed with the feedback decided the show needed to stick with the creator’s vision, easing the showrunner out of the project. It was also decided these developments would stay out of the press. Everyone got paid as promised, but the showrunner has stayed away from premieres, promotions and all manner of ownership on the project.

Our Guess

Creator: Deepa Mehta