Crime Beat EXCLUSIVE! Saba Azad Reveals Show's USP, If She Resonated With Her Character's Dilemma & More

Crime Beat on ZEE5: She's supremely talented, knows how to command screen presence and can definitely woo you with her charm. Be it Rocket Boys or Who's Your Gynac, she has impressed the audience with her work in different web series. There's no prize for guessing that we are talking about Saba Azad.

Taking things a notch higher, Saba is all set take the audience on a roller coaster ride with ZEE5's Crime Thriller. Guess what? She will be seen playing a different role in the crime thriller.

As a journalist, we always love when stars play a media professional on the screen. Ahead of the release of the web series, Saba Azad exclusively interacted with Filmibeat and barred her heart on her new project, the USP of Crime Beat and if she reasoned with her character's dilemma.

Here are excepts from the interview-

1. What intrigued you the most about this story and what aspects of your character did you find most compelling?

What was intriguing was that it was set in the world of investigative journalism and I've always been curious about that world and what goes into investigative journalism. It starts with stringers, with reporters, there's a dance that the reporters have to do with the police as well as the authorities, and what eventually ends up in the newspapers. You don't know the back end of what all has happened and so much goes into it for a story to make it to print. I thought that was just really interesting and the world that Somnath Batabyal (The Price You Pay) had built in his book on which this show was built around and inspired by is incredible. I was curious about it and of course, the part itself was wonderful.

2. With the rise of investigative crime thrillers on OTT platforms, what do you believe sets Crime Beat apart, and how does your character contribute to its uniqueness?

Ans: I just think it's a story kind of inspired by true events, so it's not just another show. It tells a story that's already happened and is inspired by those events. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, it's gritty, it's real, and it takes you into the world of investigative journalism. Maya is a very interesting character. She comes from privilege, and she's trying to run away from it because she wants to be taken seriously in her profession. She's almost embarrassed by her privilege, which is not the kind of character you generally see in cinema. Usually, people embrace their backgrounds, especially if they come from wealth. But Maya wants nothing to do with it; she wants to be recognized for her own merit. She doesn't want a cushy life; she studied investigative journalism and wants to cover crime. I thought that was very interesting about her. And as you watch the show, you'll see how she fits into the story and how it progresses.

3. Your character is constantly torn between ambition, ethics, and survival. How did you approach portraying this internal struggle, and were there moments where you personally resonated with her dilemmas?

Ans: I think everybody goes through dilemmas in life, especially in the work sphere. I can't say I've faced such large moral dilemmas as Maya, I haven't. But Maya was thrown into a situation where she did have to choose, where she had to decide. As for the challenges in portraying that, I think understanding where the character is coming from is key. If you truly make that your own and find some honesty within it, the turmoil that a character goes through becomes the most exciting part to portray as an actor. The contradictory emotions, the contrast of feelings that's what I live for. More than being challenging, it was exciting.