Deven Bhojani on 25 years with 'Chumbak' director Aatish Kapadia

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Deven Bhojani on 25 years with 'Chumbak' director Aatish Kapadia

Synopsis

Behind the scenes of Netflix's 'Chumbak', actor Deven Bhojani reveals a 25-year creative partnership with director Aatish Kapadia so finely tuned that a scene number — '44A' or '37B' — is all the direction either of them needs. It's a rare friendship in Indian streaming that neither demands loyalty nor compromises honesty.

Key Takeaways

Deven Bhojani spoke about his 25-year friendship and creative partnership with 'Chumbak' director Aatish Kapadia .
Bhojani credited Kapadia's energy for lifting the entire unit's morale during production.
The two share an on-set shorthand — a take number like 44A or 37B suffices to communicate intent without further discussion.
Bhojani said neither he nor Kapadia forces casting or role choices on the other, preserving honesty in their professional relationship. 'Chumbak' is streaming on Netflix and features an ensemble cast including Neena Gupta , Sumeet Vyas , Sumeet Raghavan , Sandeepa Dhar , and Manasi Parekh .

Actor Deven Bhojani has opened up about his deep creative bond with Aatish Kapadia, the director of the recently released Netflix streaming show 'Chumbak', describing a 25-year friendship that has matured into an almost wordless professional understanding on set.

The Chemistry Behind the Camera

Speaking during the promotions of the show in the BKC area of Mumbai, Bhojani was effusive in his praise for Kapadia's on-set energy. He credited the director's relentless positivity for lifting the entire unit during production.

'He has so much energy in that man, that because of that and those vibes and positive vibes and he has so much energy himself, that the whole unit becomes energetic because of that,' Bhojani said. He added that the two share a shorthand so finely tuned that a single scene reference — such as a take numbered 44A or 37B — is enough to convey exactly what either of them wants, without lengthy explanation.

Friendship That Doesn't Demand Loyalty

Bhojani was equally candid about how the two navigate their personal closeness without letting it cloud professional judgement. He noted that neither imposes expectations on the other when it comes to casting or role choices.

'We are very good friends personally. But professionally, our tuning is very good, no doubt about it. We never force each other,' he said. Bhojani elaborated that if a role seems suitable for him but he genuinely doesn't wish to take it, he tells Kapadia plainly — and the director accepts it without friction. Equally, Bhojani said he never feels slighted when Kapadia doesn't approach him for a part he believes he could play.

About 'Chumbak' and the Ensemble Cast

The show features an ensemble that includes Sandeepa Dhar, Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, Neena Gupta, and Manasi Parekh, all of whom joined Bhojani at the promotional event in Mumbai. The show has reportedly drawn strong audience response since its release on Netflix.

What the Show Signals

Notably, Aatish Kapadia is regarded as the glue that held the ensemble together, according to Bhojani — a director who pushes performers to their best without crossing into coercion. This kind of sustained creative partnership, spanning 25 years, is relatively rare in the fast-moving world of Indian streaming content, where projects are increasingly assembled around star power rather than long-nurtured collaborations. As 'Chumbak' continues to build viewership, the bond between Bhojani and Kapadia stands as a compelling behind-the-scenes story in its own right.

Point of View

A 25-year creative partnership between an actor and a director is genuinely unusual — and Bhojani's candour about it is refreshing. What stands out is not just the chemistry he describes but the mutual non-possessiveness: neither man guilt-trips the other over casting. That kind of professional maturity is what actually sustains long-term collaborations, and it's the quieter story inside 'Chumbak' that the promotional circuit rarely surfaces.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Deven Bhojani and what is 'Chumbak'?
Deven Bhojani is a veteran Indian actor currently receiving strong audience response for his role in 'Chumbak', a streaming show directed by Aatish Kapadia and available on Netflix. The show features an ensemble cast including Neena Gupta, Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, Sandeepa Dhar, and Manasi Parekh.
How long have Deven Bhojani and director Aatish Kapadia known each other?
Deven Bhojani and Aatish Kapadia share a friendship and creative collaboration spanning 25 years. Bhojani described their bond as both personally warm and professionally respectful, with neither placing demands on the other.
What did Deven Bhojani say about working with Aatish Kapadia on 'Chumbak'?
Bhojani said Kapadia's energy energises the entire unit on set, and that the two share an almost wordless professional shorthand — a scene number like '44A' or '37B' is enough for both to understand exactly what the other means. He described it as a rare level of tuning built over decades.
Where is 'Chumbak' available to watch?
'Chumbak' is available to stream on Netflix. The show has reportedly received a strong positive response from audiences since its release.
How do Bhojani and Kapadia handle casting decisions given their close friendship?
Bhojani said the two never impose expectations on each other. He noted that if Kapadia does not approach him for a role, he does not take offence; equally, if he personally does not wish to take a role, he tells Kapadia honestly and the director accepts it without pressure.
Nation Press
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