Sandeepa Dhar on 'Chumbak' director Aatish Kapadia's unforgettable first narration
Synopsis
Sandeepa Dhar says director Aatish Kapadia's first pitch for 'Chumbak' was a solo performance — he voiced every character, mimicked background music, and shape-shifted across the cast in minutes. That five-minute showcase was enough for her to commit to the Netflix show before finishing the script.
Key Takeaways
Sandeepa Dhar recalled her first narration meeting with 'Chumbak' director Aatish Kapadia during the show's Mumbai promotions.
Kapadia reportedly performed all characters individually — changing voice, tone, and mannerisms — and even reproduced background music cues in the session.
Dhar said she would have accepted any role in the show, not just her character Kiran , calling it 'every actor's dream' to work in such a setup.
The ensemble cast includes Sumeet Vyas , Sumeet Raghavan , Neena Gupta , and Manasi Parekh . 'Chumbak' is currently streaming on Netflix and has been receiving positive audience response.
Actress Sandeepa Dhar has recalled the moment director Aatish Kapadia first pitched the recently released Netflix OTT show 'Chumbak' to her — a narration so vivid and character-driven that it convinced her to sign on before she had even finished reading the script. Dhar shared her experience during the show's promotional event held at the BKC area of Mumbai, alongside co-stars Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, Neena Gupta, and Manasi Parekh.
A Director Who Became Every Character
Dhar described Kapadia's narration as a one-man theatrical performance. 'For me, I was amazed because when he narrated it, he played all the parts, he played all the characters, so he was changing voice from one character to another, tonality, everything changed. So he did the mannerisms, he fully became that character and within like five minutes, he had done everything,' she said.
The actress noted that Kapadia even wove in background music cues during the session. 'He had done the background music, he had done each character and I was just looking at him like, 'Oh my god, what is this person?',' she recalled. Having not met Kapadia before that session, Dhar said she was immediately drawn to the idea of working with him purely to learn from the experience.
The Script Sealed the Deal
Once Dhar read through the actual script, her enthusiasm only grew. 'Once I read the script, I was like, 'Oh my god'. I was just laughing, it was so funny and I think it's got the heart of Aatish Kapadia in terms of his wit and humour and everything,' she said. She plays the character Kiran in the show, though she admitted she would have accepted any role on offer. 'I felt like any part that you would give me in it, I would just do it even if they didn't give me Kiran... I would do it because I think it's every actor's dream to kind of work in this kind of a setup,' she added.
About the Show
'Chumbak' has been receiving positive audience response since its release, with the ensemble cast — including Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, Neena Gupta, and Manasi Parekh — drawing particular praise. The show is directed by Aatish Kapadia, known for his distinctive storytelling rooted in wit and warmth. It is currently available to stream on Netflix.
What to Expect From 'Chumbak'
Based on Dhar's description of both the narration process and the script's humour, 'Chumbak' appears to lean into character-driven comedy with emotional depth — a format that has found growing traction on Indian OTT platforms in recent years. The show's ensemble format and Kapadia's signature wit are being cited as its core strengths by those involved in it.
Point of View
Suggesting this is a creator-led project rather than a star-vehicle. For Netflix India, a word-of-mouth comedy with a recognisable ensemble is a low-risk, high-return play. The real question is whether Kapadia's wit translates across episodes or fades after the strong premise.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Chumbak' and where can I watch it?
'Chumbak' is a recently released Indian OTT show directed by Aatish Kapadia, currently streaming on Netflix. It features an ensemble cast including Sandeepa Dhar, Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, Neena Gupta, and Manasi Parekh.
What did Sandeepa Dhar say about director Aatish Kapadia's narration?
Sandeepa Dhar said Kapadia performed every character individually during the narration — changing voices, tonality, and mannerisms — and even reproduced background music, all within roughly five minutes. She said the experience alone made her want to work with him.
Who does Sandeepa Dhar play in 'Chumbak'?
Sandeepa Dhar plays a character named Kiran in 'Chumbak'. She has said she was so impressed by the script and director that she would have taken any role in the show, not just Kiran.
Who else is in the cast of 'Chumbak'?
The show features Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, Neena Gupta, and Manasi Parekh alongside Sandeepa Dhar. The cast was present at the show's promotional event in the BKC area of Mumbai.
What is 'Chumbak' about?
While full plot details have not been elaborated upon in the promotional interviews, the show is described as a comedy rooted in wit and humour — described by Sandeepa Dhar as reflecting 'the heart of Aatish Kapadia' in its tone and storytelling style.
