Kuldeep Ruhil travelled extensively and lived in deras to research MX Player’s Aashram, starring Bobby Deol, for which he wrote the screenplay and dialogues. He is now rewriting Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth, which is being directed by Revathi and will release next year. Ruhil talks god-men and religion with THE WEEK.
Q\ What inspired you to take on Aashram?
A\ They say that either you find the story or the story finds you. When the story of Aashram came to me—written by Habib Faisal and conceptualised by MX Player—I felt like it was about my life and the people I know. When I got the chance to work on Aashram, my mind was full of flashbacks from my childhood and my memories of deras. All around Haryana, where I am from—whether in Punjab, UP, Delhi or Rajasthan—the landscape is dotted with aashrams and deras. Members of my extended family also visit these aashrams.... I felt I had an insight into writing about the social structure that exists today—who gets exploited and why, and what makes them more susceptible to being taken advantage of.
Q\ What were the challenges of writing the show’s screenplay?
A\ In India, we have countless god-men and their exploits have been well covered. While writing a screenplay about something that people are familiar with, you have to introduce a certain element of humour, thrill, pain and drama. That was always at the back of my mind and at the forefront of my discussions with MX Player.
Q\ What insights about India and religion did you draw from to write a show about cheating god-men?
A\ All the babas from different parts of the country have one thing in common—their proclivity for sexual exploitation alongside financial, physical and emotional exploitation. [Also], their ability or power to pull people. People become enamoured of someone who they think has all the answers. We treat god-men like heroes, and the aura—fabricated or otherwise—around them is what really pulls people in.
Q\ You are now working on the modern remake of Arth.
A\ Life has indeed come full circle…. I started my film career with Bhatt saab and today, I am re-writing Arth, his most celebrated film till date. My name was recommended by the producer [to write the script]. Revathi had already been roped in to direct the classic. I met with her, we discussed our interpretations of the movie and she liked my ideas.