‘Kohrra’’s Barun Sobti on What Makes Sudip Sharma’s Show Hit So Hard: ‘No Glorified Punjab, No Perfect Cops’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Season 2 of "Kohrra", starring Barun Sobti and Mona Singh and created by Sudip Sharma, is already among the most celebrated shows of 2026. Widely praised for its writing and performances, the Netflix crime drama continues to dominate conversations. Sobti, who plays police officer Amarpal Garundi, spoke exclusively to Variety India about why he believes the show resonates so deeply and how Sharma enables him to deliver one of his most layered performances.

Sobti said he believes the series stands out because it refuses to romanticize Punjab, instead presenting a complex and emotionally charged reality. “For me, this is the first time I’ve seen a show set in Punjab that doesn’t glorify the state. It reveals hidden secrets, truths, lies, and an emotionally charged Punjab,” he said.

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He added, “It humanizes cops, showing them as flawed, complex, and deeply human. That’s what works for me as an audience member. And as an actor, being part of such a celebrated series it’s the multiple layers of every character that unfold while solving a case, the emotional endurance the cops go through, and the unspoken understanding among them. Those complexities are what make the show work.”

Later in the conversation, Sobti also discussed his use of silence as Garundi and how Sudip Sharma gave him the freedom to improvise. “Silence is a huge tool — the most underused tool. Playing Garundi gave me a lot of freedom. At one point, Sudip always had his headphones on, and sometimes things just come naturally. When you’re playing a character like Garundi, you can’t be overly civil. I improvised something once, and the person rehearsing with me said, ‘Nahi, likha nahi hai,’ but Sudip shouted, ‘Let it flow,’” Sobti recalled.

He continued, “The freedom to perform and go with the flow was incredible. And everything I did was appreciated. It’s not that appreciation doesn’t happen elsewhere, but this was the kind of work I had longed to do. When I got it, I hoped I could do it my way — and I was able to, because of Sudip. That’s what made it possible.”