It’s not every day that Mahesh Bhatt hosts a chat show. Then again, it’s not every day that an urgent show comes his way. Within seconds of getting on the call, the filmmaker, succinctly yet philosophically, explained what drew him to Pehchaan. “When the house is on fire, you don’t debate; you bring water. Pehchaan is that water, because you know where the world is right now,” he stated.
Directed by Suhrita Das, the SonyLIV unscripted series features Bhatt in conversation with 13 individuals from the Sikh community, who dedicated their lives to seva. To the host, it’s notable that the chat show’s subjects don’t preach their truth, but practise it. “They have drawn strength from their faith and translated it into action. We’re becoming a sound-byte society. We think we can solve the world’s problems just by talking, tweeting, or putting our ideas on Instagram. These individuals [on the show] are unsung and not seeking accolades. Today, when division is growing by the hour, Pehchaan speaks about connection,” the host asserted.
Mahesh Bhatt. Pic/Ashish Raje
According to him, artistes must focus on building connection in today’s times of hate and division. “Filmmakers and their stories should give you insights into [another human’s] complexities and the turbulence of life. It’s supposed to glue people together. Filmmakers can use a story as a weapon or as a way to stitch,” he said. When asked if stories on screen are “stitching” people together, he rued, “I don’t think so. The entertainment world and media have done the opposite. They are pushing people away from each other, by the hour.”
‘Sadak 2’, which released in 2020, was Mahesh Bhatt’s last directorial feature
