How Does 'The Trial' Director Umesh Bist Capture Stellar Performances?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Umesh Bist integrates with actors for better performances.
- Season 2 adapts a rich narrative into a concise format.
- Collaboration with stars Jisshu Sengupta and Kajol strengthens the storytelling.
- Effective adaptation to Indian contexts is essential for resonance.
- Season 2 is a challenge in writing and execution.
Mumbai, Sep 8 (NationPress) Director Umesh Bist, who is in charge of the highly anticipated second season of the streaming series ‘The Trial’, has revealed his secret to eliciting remarkable performances from his actors, Jisshu Sengupta and Kajol.
In a recent chat with IANS, Umesh, Jisshu, and Kajol shared light-hearted moments as they discussed the upcoming release of the show's second season.
When questioned about his approach to directing actors, Umesh responded, “You should never attempt to restrain your actors. That’s a poor strategy. You must integrate yourself with them. It’s important to become a part of their crew.”
He also emphasized that having watched the first season gave him valuable insights into the series.
“I am a huge admirer of ‘The Good Wife’ (the series that inspired ‘The Trial’). The source material is incredibly rich. I had a clear vision for how I wanted to tell the story. With Kajol leading the cast, along with Jisshu and a remarkable crew, writing season 2 posed a significant challenge,” he noted.
Umesh pointed out, “The second season of ‘The Good Wife’ consists of more than 27 episodes, whereas we only have 6 half-hour episodes. Therefore, we needed to condense everything while capturing the essence. Most importantly, we had to adapt it to our Indian context. Jisshu and Kajol contributed significantly, laying a strong foundation for us. By the time we reached the set, I was working with actors who were both well-prepared and spontaneous.”
‘The Trial’ season 2 is scheduled for streaming on September 19, 2025, exclusively on JioHotstar.