At the NDTV Yuva 2026 session, Fatima Sana Shaikh dropped a bombshell about her approach to Hunkkaar. She didn't just want to play a cop; she wanted to dismantle the stereotype. "I was very excited to play a cop, but I did not want to play a typical cop, like enter into the physicality - I wasn't interested," she told the audience. Her focus was entirely on the mind. She spent time with constables and inspectors, absorbing their stories and the messy contradictions of their daily lives. It’s a refreshing departure from the standard action-hero template we’ve seen in Indian crime dramas.
Her insights on the police system are equally sharp. She points out a double standard in how we share news. "On Instagram, when I read a case, I instantly post about it. But when they do something good, we don't share," Fatima observed. She argues that painting the entire system in one color is lazy. There are officers who fail us, yes, but there are also those trying to protect us. This nuance is what drives her character, ACP Jasleen Singh Soin, who finds herself in the crosshairs of a high-profile case involving a cult leader known as 'Baapji'.
The actress also made a compelling case for OTT platforms. She noted that films often box characters in due to pacing and box office pressures, but long-form series allow for evolution. "In one episode you might hate a character, but by the fourth episode you understand the complexities," she explained. For women, she added, this platform has opened doors that cinema often slams shut, allowing for strong characters who are also permitted to be vulnerable.
Hunkkaar, directed by Karan D Kapadia, Nitya Mehra, and Heeraz Marfatia, centers on 17-year-old Meenu Rawat’s accusation against a revered cult figure. As the investigation unfolds, media attention begins to warp the truth, creating a tense atmosphere where public opinion rivals the police report. The series features Raghubir Yadav and Ram Kapoor in key supporting roles, adding weight to the central conflict.