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Friday, January 9, 2026
TopicPaatal Lok

Topic: Paatal Lok

Nagaland to Nizamuddin, how Nikita Grover broke every casting rule for Paatal Lok

Casting director Nikita Grover scoured streets, social media, and cafes to cast Paatal Lok Season 2. She skipped 'cliche casting' and fought for some of her picks.

How Sudip Sharma broke OTT’s crime drama rut, Paatal Lok to Kohrra

In a streaming landscape crowded with stylised violence and formulaic crime lords, Sudip Sharma brings in cops and villains who are complex and human, Nagaland to Punjab.

Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua lights up Paatal Lok. But he’s not ready for the spotlight

Jahnu Barua, a 12-time National Award-winning director, made his acting debut in Paatal Lok Season 2 as Uncle Ken. ‘Prefer being behind the camera,’ he says.

Jaideep Ahlawat is Haryana’s Diljit Dosanjh. And ‘grounded, available, accessible like Irrfan’

Jaideep Ahlawat, who modelled Inspector Hathi Ram's lopsided walk on his schoolteacher father’s, acknowledges that the world is full of people like him – invisible, unidentifiable, missable.

From Northeast extra, Chinese secretary to Paatal Lok’s Rose Lizo—Merenla Imsong’s many lives

Merenla Imsong is now one of India’s most recognisable Northeastern actors. She was so convincing as drug addict Rose Lizo in Paatal Lok that fans tell her to ‘get well soon’.

Paatal Lok season 2 gets Nagaland right. Doesn’t spoon-feed Northeast to Hindi viewers

Naga characters speak in Nagamese instead of accented Hindi. In one fell swoop, Paatal Lok demolishes the idea that Hindi is the norm.

Before ‘Paatal Lok’, director Avinash Arun was insecure. ‘School of Lies’ made him a risk-taker

For five years after winning a National Award, Avinash Arun Dhaware did not direct. Instead, he found solace as a cinematographer. From Irrfan Khan to Vicky Kaushal, he has shot the who’s who of Bollywood.

On Camera

Global economic growth to slow in 2026 as Trump’s tariffs bite, UN says

The global economy is forecast to expand 2.7% this year, down from an estimated 2.8% in 2025. Growth is expected to go back up to 2.9% by 2027.

2025: Pakistan’s deadliest year in over a decade

Islamabad-based think-tank PICSS's new report says Pakistan saw 'pronounced escalation' in violence last year, with 3,413 conflict-related deaths compared to 1,950 in previous year.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.