There is something endearing about the chemistry between Madhu and Harsh Neotia. Crackling. He keeps pulling her leg and she is always sporting about it. So, when we called Madhu for this chat on her upcoming venture — The India Story Continues... — she shared how Harsh tinkered with her mind this time again and went ROFL. We too LOL’d and then chatted some more about what to expect.

So The India Story is going digital with The India Story Continues…

Let me go back to how it started. During the earlier part of the lockdown, much like the others, I was spending most of my time with family, at home... a lot more than I have done all my life. I have dabbled with so many things all along that haven’t really paid as much attention to the house per se and I did see signs of neglect. So finally, I was content donning the role that I hadn’t played in the longest.

Alas, my husband (Harsh Neotia) will always tinker with my brain and he did it yet again! It was almost like the season of webinars and while we tuned into them often, he probed me to experiment on these lines for The India Story. I won’t deny I was not too keen on the format initially... well to be honest, I was for once happy to not work (chuckles).

Things however, will happen if they are meant to... right? And it just did when I chanced upon a Facebook/YouTube live session one afternoon. That perfect eureka moment when ideas roll in and add shape to the random thoughts in the mind. The fact that we may not be able to have The India Story in December this year was a further impetus for me to connect with our audience. So just like that, out of the drawing room babble emerged our first experiment in web series with The India Story Continues… inaugurating this Independence Day!

What can we expect?

We are looking at three things — conversations, performances and workshops. I have deliberated and discussed ideas with like-minded people from all over to feature them as nodal anchors for specific episodes. We have lined up 10 episodes, so let’s begin with a few episodes and see how well it is received. Modelled conventionally like a web series this is Season 1, with an episode of about 45 minutes every Saturday, beginning August 15. The basic notion has been to continue the narrative of The India Story, so you will definitely see people who have been supportive of our efforts and endeavours. This also branches as another vertical from the Neotia Arts Trust.

What can you tell us about the first session?

The first session is with a bunch of my favourites. Sandeep Khosla from Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla and Raj Mahtani in conversation with Jamal Shaikh. They have all been very closely associated with The India Story and we could not have opened Season 1 with a more striking panel! Please tune in live at noon on Facebook and YouTube.

This will be followed by a tete-a-tete with Prateek Kuhad in episode 2 on the following Saturday, August 22.

Did Parthiv, Paroma and Mr Neotia have inputs?

It was actually Mr Neotia who nudged me to think of this. Although I did not pay much heed to it, he knows exactly how to get things going in my mind (laughs). Sometimes I do wonder why people at home can’t see me relaxing and content for once! For Parthiv and Paroma, I think I have crossed their threshold of surprise. They have been so bemused through the working of it all, wondering now what is mom getting at. But if you ask about inputs and support, I have to say none of this would be possible without my young and dynamic team who made things happen seamlessly even as they worked from home.

However, you know I had done something comparable, though not similar back when we celebrated 25 years of The Conclave with the Red Sofa, where we did have conversations with Rita Bhimani over the period of a year. Naturally, with times we have evolved and now technology allows us to think beyond what is generic and conventional.

So what are you watching now?

I am watching Bandish Bandits and am mesmerised by the music. I thought Shakuntala Devi was fantastic! I also watched Aarya and Dil Bechara and loved Money Heist!

What has changed for you forever?

I have learnt the value of taking a pause. I am consciously aware of where I am and I don’t wish to rush back to the hectic schedule. I have worked breathlessly for the last two decades. It is time I feel to hone the dreams of my children and watch them soar. So yes, I want to take a break and breathe from time to time.