Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub on ‘Hunkkaar’ Co-Star Aneet Padda: ‘She’s a Good Kid, We Used to Joke Around During Intense Courtroom Scenes’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub opens up about his off-screen bond with young co-star Aneet Padda while filming the intense legal drama “Hunkkaar”. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, the acclaimed actor offers a candid peek into the behind-the-scenes camaraderie during demanding courtroom shoots, sharing how the cast kept the atmosphere light between heavy takes.

He also reflects on his role as public prosecutor Babban Rao Bhalerao, breaking down the challenge of playing morally grounded characters in stories that explore the thin line between courtroom justice and media trials. 

Zeeshan recalls the courtroom scenes, which allowed the cast to share lighthearted moments amid the intensity of the shoot. "Aneet would be sitting behind me. We used to joke around with Charu (Shankar, who plays Aneet’s mother in the series) and her. Aneet is a good kid."

Related Stories

‘Hunkkaar’ Director Karan Kapadia On Aneet Padda’s Meteoric ‘Saiyaara’ Rise: ‘It Surprised the Entire World’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Fatima Sana Shaikh and Zoya Hussain on Aneet Padda’s Approach to ‘Hunkkaar’: ‘Everyone Including Aneet Took the Scenes to Another Level’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Moving from the on-set dynamics to the core themes of the series, Zeeshan highlighted how “Hunkkaar” addresses the tension between public perception and legal truth in modern society. "Democratic justice cannot be delivered until there is social justice," Zeeshan noted, pointing to a central line in the show. "Media room trials, now it has become a mockery sometimes, especially in sexual assault cases."

Portraying Bhalerao required Zeeshan to bring a quiet conviction to a character standing up for institutional integrity. When asked what draws him to morally upright roles, he admitted that playing the good guy carries its own risks for an actor. "All of us grew up looking at very idealistic characters. So I think automatically, as a human instinct, you get excited," he explains.

"You see a character, right? You can feel that he's standing at the right place at the right time. So you feel excited. But there is always a risk in it, whether it's ‘Scoop’ or ‘Hunkkaar.’ There is always that fear that the character will become boring because no one listens to good things. Everyone is interested in gossip or something different. So there is a sense of responsibility, but it's fun."