Sonali Bendre discusses ZEE5's 'The Broken News 2'
ZEE5's acclaimed series The Broken News is back for a second season, delving deeper into the clash between ethical journalism and media sensationalism. The narrative continues to explore the rivalry between two news channels, 'Josh 24/7' and 'Awaaz Bharti'. Season two begins with Radha, played by Shriya Pilgaonkar, still incarcerated, an unexpected development that leaves Amina Qureshi, portrayed by Sonali Bendre, reeling. In an interview with Mid-Day, Bendre shared her experience working on the show.
Amina's struggle: The impact of truth in journalism
Bendre's character, Amina, is forced to reassess her role as a journalist following Radha's continued imprisonment. She told the portal, "This situation shows Amina that the world is changing fast, and it makes her doubt if truth really has the power to make a difference anymore." "She questions her effectiveness as a journalist and wonders if she has lost touch [with the current pulse]. The season [is also about] her search for answers and exploring her vulnerable side."
Bendre thinks the role is 'fantastic'
Charting the differences between OTT and films, Bendre said, "In the first season, I got to explore the character of Amina because [the story] was not just two hours but at least six to seven-hours long." "Inhabiting that role again is fantastic because you get the liberty to explore more layers of the character and do full justice to all its facets. That was fascinating for me."
'The Broken News': A critique of Indian news channels
Directed by Vinay Waikul and written by Sambit Mishra, the series presents a compelling conflict between 'truth' and 'sensationalism'. It criticizes Indian news channels for often playing judge, jury, and executioner in their haste to break news first. The use of real-life headlines adds authenticity to the storyline. The season also explores whether Dipankar (Jaideep Ahlawat) will acknowledge his mistakes or continue his relentless pursuit of ratings.
Exploring personal lives: Beyond the newsroom
This season also delves into the characters' personal lives outside their professional spheres. For instance, Pankaj Awasthi, played by Indraneil Sengupta, is navigating a divorce and hopes to start anew with Amina. Concurrently, Dipankar's relationship with his wife Arunima, portrayed by Sukhmani Sadhna, is evolving. The cast welcomes new additions like Ronnie (Akshay Oberoi), who becomes Awaaz Bharti's new owner, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan who plays a spirited news presenter in Dipankar's team.
