There have been great comments coming in; we now want to take the Naagin franchise to the next level: Chetan Hansraj – Head of AI, Balaji Telefilms

Naagin 7, the latest launch on Colors TV, has been the talk of the town for the past two weeks. The much-anticipated show has struck a chord with the audience’s expectations. The show is being appreciated for the exceptional performances of Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, the magical chemistry between Namik Paul and Priyanka, and, of course, the brilliant usage of AI and VFX.

The strong positive comments are pouring in from one and all, and this has given rise to a wave of bigger things to be expected from the show in the coming time.

We at IWMBuzz.com got into an exclusive conversation with Chetan Hansraj, who is now shouldering a new responsibility as the Head of AI in Balaji Telefilms.

Chetan was very happy to share his inputs and talk at length about the immense impact that the technology of AI has provided to the Naagin franchise.

The reactions post the launch of Naagin 7 are nice. The public has liked our work. It is really heartwarming.

Accepting all the appreciation coming in from viewers, Chetan, with a glee on his face, talks about this new creative side of his, saying, “We were actually one of the first ones to start using AI. We started last year in February, and we have been developing our team and understanding AI better. I have been following AI for the last 4-5 years, from the time it was very nascent. Ekta Ma’am is a visionary and wants to be ahead of the game always. I told her about using AI. We created a department in Balaji and built our team. With Naagin 7, we have got the huge opportunity to put our ideas on the execution table.”

“The reactions post the launch of Naagin 7 are nice. The public has liked our work. It is really heartwarming,” says Chetan.

Chetan has had a fetish for AI and is happy to have started early. “Along with my acting, my creative side is now happy. When AI came, I knew that it was the future. The possibilities to create amazing things are wide now with AI being there.”

Ask him about the very thin line that separates the perfect-looking AI product and the weird, caricaturish stuff made with AI, and he says, “You are right. There is a thin line between making it look realistic, using the best form of AI, to looking caricaturish and weird. AI has improved with time, and our results now look better and better. It’s all about our artistic intent. As developers, we strive not to compromise on results. We are keen to redo it if we do not get it right. So the quality check plays a very important role. AI can result in good and bad, as you said. But yes, it is one of the best tools to create work that is impossible to do otherwise.”

I have told my entire team that we need to restart for every scene.

“Sequences involving battles, dragons fighting, etc, if you want to do it in real life, will cost you a bomb in VFX. This is actually a new way of creating VFX where we are not breaking a house to create a sequence,” he avers.

Talking about individual brilliance, he says, “Even for individual creators who have amazing stories in their heads, and want to express them, now is the right time.”

Chetan cites an example and says, “When I was young, I had a concept in my head called Water. I wanted to make it, but it was expensive to make. Recently, I made the film through AI. With this, my 30-year dream came true. So, what I mean to say is, there are no restrictions on how to make it. Earlier, budgets used to be the restrictions. Now, it is all about individual creators and how well they use this system to create amazing stuff.”

The idea is to take television and other mediums to another level, and not be restricted by thinking of budgets.

Talking about the process that is involved for a particular scene, Chetan quips, “Firstly, you get a scene to do, with the script. We understand what we need to do with AI. There can be backgrounds, creatures, dragons, serpents – we make a storyboard out of it. The creative team gets involved, and we sit and decide what we want and what matches the scene. This is a process. Now, everyone in our team has become a well-oiled machine.”

Ask him about the time constraints coming in now, with the show being on air, and he says, “The beauty of AI is that it is quick. We have a 10-person team. We start working on it the minute a scene comes to us. We break it down, start generating the storyboard, and the creative team gets involved. Yes, earlier we had the leverage of time before the launch. You are right. Now we need to be quick. The positive aspect is that we can generate results through AI quickly. It is a different ball game altogether now, as the show is on air. But yes, this is the challenge, and it is real fun.”

Chetan means business and likes to take every scene as a fresh start. “There have been some great comments coming in. Right now, for me, I am putting my head down into work, taking every scene as it comes. The past is past. The start has been good. I have told my entire team that we need to restart for every scene. You are only remembered by what you do last, isn’t it?. We have a decent bank; we need to build on it. We have requested the scenes to come earlier so that we get a good time.”

Ask him whether the actor in him feels dejected at not being a part of Naagin 7, and he says, “Yes, as an actor, I always want to be a part of a good project. But this is something creative for a change. So this is an equally satisfying work,”

The fight sequence with the wolf was fabulous. What you will see ahead will be mind-boggling.

On the work front, Chetan has recently finished shooting for the much-anticipated film, Ramayan.

We ask him about Ektaa Kapoor’s reaction to the team’s AI in the show, and he says, “Ekta Ma’am loved it. I was a bit nervous, but she said that the scale is looking really good. We want to take the franchise to the next level now.”

Remind him of the time when the first-look teaser of Naagin 7 did not get appreciated much. “AI is a fast-changing world. What was available two months ago is much different from what is available now. I agree that a few people did find the teaser lacking in many departments. But then, we gave the best with what was available. Now, what we are getting is even better. Two months later, we will have stuff which will be unbelievable. If I don’t follow it for one week or two weeks, it is tough to cope up.”

Talking about keeping himself and the team updated, Chetan says, “Every day, my team and I have made it a point to spend 45 minutes researching the latest AI updates. Social media and YouTube are the best mediums for learning. We try it out and test the new features coming in.”

On his favourite AI-used sequence so far in Naagin 7, Chetan says, “You will see a big fight sequence with dragons, which has been my favourite. You are asking a daddy about the babies. I love all of it. But, if you ask me about one sequence that has gone on air, the fight sequence with the wolf was fabulous. What you will see ahead will be mind-boggling.”

Lastly, talking about his goals, Chetan says, “My goals ahead are to work on the concepts I have written over the years. The idea is to take television and other mediums to another level, and not be restricted by thinking of budgets. Now we are free to dream. I have lived my entire life in the entertainment business. Now this is the way I want to give back.”

Chetan, job well done!! This is only the start, and you have a long way to go! Dream big!!