Naveen Andrews on How His ‘The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh’ Character Believes Love Will Prevail

[Editor’s note: The following contains some spoilers for The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh.]

The Prime Video authentic household comedy sequence The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh follows a household made up of fogeys Mahesh (Naveen Andrews) and Sudha (Sindhu Vee) and their three youngsters, Bhanu (Sahana Srinivasan), Kamal (Arjun Sriram) and Vinod (Ashwin Sakthivel), that has moved from India to begin a brand new life in America, solely to search out themselves caught up with their neighbors in sudden methods. Recounting occasions via flashbacks to a pair of investigators in an try to show their innocence, every of the Pradeeps would possibly see issues a bit otherwise, however they clearly love one another and are simply hoping to return to their pursuit of the American Dream.

Throughout this one-on-one interview with Collider, Andrews talked about getting the bizarre alternative to do a half-hour comedy sequence, discovering the fitting tempo and vitality for the scenes, what he most loved concerning the dynamic between the mother and father, capturing the interrogation scenes, Mahesh’s relationship with neighbor Jimbo (Ethan Suplee), and the way followers of Misplaced will in all probability all the time ask him about his time on that sequence.

‘The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh’ Is Totally different From the Tasks That Sometimes Come Naveen Andrews’ Method

Collider: The final time we spoke was for The Dropout and I additionally watched you in The Cleansing Woman, each of that are so very completely different from this sequence. When this got here your method, what made you need to do that? What made you need to play this character? Had you considered or been searching for something like this or did this come as a shock?

NAVEEN ANDREWS: It was a shock, fairly actually. It’s attention-grabbing as a result of it got here from Michael Showalter, who directed The Dropout. When the script got here, it was the format that was uncommon for me, as a half-hour sitcom, but additionally the character. I’ve by no means performed a personality like Mahesh, who’s so relentlessly optimistic, virtually irritatingly so. And he appears to have a real curiosity and perception that goodwill and love will someway permit him and his household to prevail out of the country.

I really like that that is your loved ones sitcom period however discovering the fitting group of actors to make up a household will also be an excellent difficult factor. When did you first meet your TV household? Did you guys get to spend any time collectively, or was that very well-defined within the script?

ANDREWS: It was very well-defined within the script. After all, we had an opportunity to satisfy up, proper earlier than we began capturing, with numerous dinners, and so on. On the core of this specific piece is a sure sort of self-discipline. To ensure that scenes to work and move, there’s a sure sort of tempo and vitality that everybody has to stick to.

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The sequence is impressed by showrunner Vijal Patel’s life.

Each household has to have their very own model of chaos that appears pure to them, which is tough to do while you’re strangers thrown collectively, making an attempt to be a household.

ANDREWS: My accomplice has 4 youngsters. They’re all grown up now, however every time they get collectively, it’s a refrain of creatures, like loud birds. It’s very completely different to my scenario, the place I had two boys, born aside and in several international locations.

What did you most take pleasure in concerning the relationship between Mahesh and Sudha (Sindhu Vee)? There’s a bit little bit of a job reversal with them, in some methods.

ANDREWS: Sure. I cherished the side of telepathy. You assume that sort of connection could be very deep. But in addition, there’s their love for one another and their youngsters, for the household unit. And there’s inherent respect for her, as an instructional skilled.

It’s enjoyable to see how completely different they each are with the children.

ANDREWS: Sure, it’s such a totally completely different dynamic. Totally different youngsters replicate their very own idiosyncrasies.

‘The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh’ Makes use of Humor To Confront Severe Points

I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten to see a comedy sequence that’s centered across the interrogation of the household that it’s about. It’s undoubtedly a really attention-grabbing method. And someway it additionally manages to maintain issues lighthearted. What was it like to search out that steadiness between exploring a few of these severe and actual points that they’re speaking about, but additionally sustaining that lighthearted tone to all of it?

ANDREWS: The actual fact that we’re utilizing humor to confront these points which can be clearly complicated and myriad, particularly at a time like this, if it was straight drama, it in all probability wouldn’t work in the identical method. For those who’re utilizing humor, you possibly can recommend and be subversive in a method that’s someway extra palatable.

It’s uncommon to have so many interrogation scenes in a present that’s not Regulation & Order. Was it difficult to make these scenes attention-grabbing, because you have been simply sitting at a desk and speaking? What was it prefer to shoot these scenes?

ANDREWS: Clearly, that’s a really oppressive scenario for an immigrant to search out themselves in. It’s moderately grim. However even in that area, they’re capable of develop relationships with their interrogators, which relies on a pure human curiosity.

And the interrogators are open sufficient to attending to know them that they then additionally begin defending them.

ANDREWS: It’s attention-grabbing how empathy is developed with the so-called different. Our pure curiosity and our pure craving to make contact with one other being isn’t dictated by aggression, rage, or detrimental emotion. It’s attention-grabbing how the present permits that to occur.

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The sequence will see Andrews painting Robert Kamdar.

Due to neighborhood proximity, this household shortly finds their lives intertwined with the Mills household. Mahesh is hanging out with Jimbo, his son has a little bit of a crush on his trainer, and his daughter can’t steer clear of the neighbor’s son. What was it prefer to have that household to distinction with your loved ones?

ANDREWS: I can’t assist being Mahesh-centric as a result of that’s how I approached this piece, however what was attention-grabbing was that, as we have been filming and because the story developed, it virtually appeared like Jimbo’s spouse and Mahesh’s spouse appeared like obstacles to them having their very own relationship. The way you outline that relationship remains to be open to query.

What was it prefer to have Ethan Suplee to play off of?

ANDREWS: From day one, the characters are purported to have an immediate attraction, and that was there, for actual. They’re virtually like huge youngsters. Even after they have disagreements or a lover’s tiff, so to talk, it’s short-lived, virtually like on the playground.

Certainly one of my favourite moments within the season is when your character is demonstrating what a French kiss is by kissing Jimbo on every cheek. Did that scene amuse you too? What number of instances did you end up having to kiss Ethan?

ANDREWS: Fairly just a few instances. It was very chilly that day, so we have been actually comforting one another. The French kiss scene undoubtedly knowledgeable once we have been training archery collectively as a result of issues might occur between them that weren’t essentially scripted.

Had you ever shot a bow and arrow earlier than? Did you really actually get to do this for the present?

ANDREWS: I acquired to have archery classes. We did learn to do it. This occupation is unpredictable.

Naveen Andrews Is Curious About What May Come Subsequent for ‘The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh’

Issues are undoubtedly left in a spot the place there are plenty of questions on what could possibly be subsequent for this household. Are you hoping to do one other season, with a purpose to get these solutions your self? Are you interested in what’s subsequent for them?

ANDREWS: Sure. I’d prefer to know if Jimbo and Mahesh go on vacation collectively.

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He additionally discusses making the choice to not choose the real-life people that they have been taking part in.

With all of the characters you’ve performed in all of the tasks you’ve executed, individuals all the time come again to Misplaced and doubtless will eternally. It was launched this 12 months on Netflix and 2024 was the twentieth anniversary of the present’s debut. Have extra followers wished to speak to you about that present once more not too long ago, or do individuals all the time need to speak about that present?

ANDREWS: Just about on a regular basis, yeah. Particularly after the pandemic as a result of lots of people have been indoors, binge-watching Misplaced. And also you’re proper, I believe that may all the time be the case. I used to be very lucky to be a part of one thing that hit the zeitgeist at the moment. I nonetheless suppose that first season holds up at the moment, by way of utilizing the medium of TV in the way in which that it did again then.

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Launch Date

October 17, 2024

Forged

Arjun Sriram
, Sahana Srinivasan
, Sindhu Vee
, Ashwin Sakthivel
, Naveen Andrews

Major Style

Comedy

Seasons

1

The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh is offered to stream on Prime Video. Try the trailer:

Watch on Prime Video