Mirzapur director Gurmmeet Singh: 'Script justice keeps franchise alive'
Synopsis
Mirzapur director Gurmmeet Singh says neither preserving the brand nor reinventing it is the real challenge — doing justice to the scripts is. His candid admission that shooting the franchise 'feels like a picnic' points to an unusually relaxed creative environment behind one of India's most intense crime dramas.
Key Takeaways
Gurmmeet Singh says his primary responsibility on Mirzapur is to do justice to the scripts, not to maintain or reinvent its identity.
Singh describes the scripts as inherently 'challenging' , arguing they are demanding enough to make other creative concerns secondary.
He says the team's goal is to translate the excitement of reading a Mirzapur script faithfully onto the screen.
Singh compared shooting Mirzapur to 'going on a picnic' , highlighting the genuine enthusiasm within the production team.
His comments come as Mirzapur expands beyond its streaming format into a theatrical film .
Mirzapur director Gurmmeet Singh says the core responsibility while helming the hit franchise — and its upcoming film — is not to obsess over maintaining its identity or reinventing it, but to do full justice to the demanding scripts that define the show. Speaking in Mumbai on 9 November 2026, Singh offered a candid look at his creative philosophy behind one of India's most-watched crime dramas.
Scripts Do the Heavy Lifting
Singh was asked what poses a greater challenge for a franchise director: preserving a successful brand or finding the boldness to reshape it. His answer cut through the debate. "I think the good part about Mirzapur is that the scripts are generally so challenging," he said. "As a director, I'm talking about that. You know, there's so much for us to do and work on that the other things then, you know, take care of themselves. So, I don't think we need to worry about any of the ancillary things."
For Singh, the primary creative yardstick is a simple one: can the electricity he feels while reading a Mirzapur script be faithfully translated onto the screen? "The main thing is to do justice to what has been written on paper. Can we translate the excitement and enjoyment we experience while reading a 'Mirzapur' script onto the screen? I think that is the primary task at hand," he added.
A Shoot That Feels Like a Picnic
Singh also pushed back against the assumption that sustaining a large-scale franchise over multiple seasons and now a feature film is an inherently stressful endeavour. He described the shooting environment as unusually energised, with the entire team looking forward to returning to the world of Mirzapur. "If we can achieve that, everything else automatically falls into place. Also, given the amount of work we have all put in over the years, whenever we shoot for 'Mirzapur', it feels like fun. It is almost like going on a picnic," he said.
Singh elaborated: "Everyone is very excited to be part of the shoot. It is not something that feels stressful or like an obligation. Shooting for 'Mirzapur' is something we genuinely enjoy and look forward to. And I think that enjoyment ultimately reflects on the screen."
What It Means for the Franchise
Singh's remarks come at a moment when Mirzapur is expanding beyond its streaming origins into a theatrical format, raising expectations among a loyal fanbase. His emphasis on script-first filmmaking suggests the creative team is not chasing novelty or formulaic reinvention but instead trusting the source material to carry the narrative weight. This approach has underpinned the show's ability to retain viewers across two acclaimed seasons, and Singh appears confident it will hold for the film as well. How that philosophy translates to the big screen remains the central question fans and critics will be watching closely.
Point of View
He is implicitly acknowledging that Mirzapur's longevity rests on its writers, not its directors or stars. That is a refreshingly honest admission in an industry that tends to deify the auteur. The 'picnic' metaphor also signals something worth noting — creative comfort can either breed confidence or complacency. For a franchise expanding into theatres, where audience expectations and competitive pressures are sharper than on a streaming platform, the question is whether script-faith alone is sufficient preparation. The real test of this philosophy comes on release day.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gurmmeet Singh say about directing the Mirzapur franchise?
Gurmmeet Singh said the biggest responsibility is doing justice to the challenging scripts, not worrying about maintaining or reinventing the franchise's identity. He argued that when the script is strong, other creative concerns take care of themselves.
Is a Mirzapur movie in the works?
Yes, Mirzapur is expanding into a theatrical film format in addition to its established streaming seasons. Singh's recent remarks were made in the context of working on both the franchise and the upcoming movie.
How does Gurmmeet Singh describe the experience of shooting Mirzapur?
Singh described the shoot as feeling 'almost like going on a picnic', with every team member genuinely excited and not treating the project as a stressful obligation. He said that enjoyment ultimately reflects on the screen.
What does Gurmmeet Singh consider the primary creative challenge on Mirzapur?
Singh says the primary task is translating the excitement and enjoyment experienced while reading a Mirzapur script faithfully onto the screen. He believes achieving that makes everything else fall into place automatically.
Why has Mirzapur remained successful across multiple seasons?
According to Singh, the franchise's sustained appeal comes from consistently challenging scripts that give directors and the entire team enough material to invest in deeply. The team's genuine enthusiasm for the project, he argues, is what audiences sense on screen.
