Tashkari Top Netflix Non-English Indian Series

Neeraj Pandey’s ‘Taskari’ has become the first Indian series to reach the number 1 spot in the Netflix Global Top 10 Non-English TV list. This is an important moment not only for the show but also for Indian storytelling at large. The show is directed by Raghav M. Jayarath and BA Fida along with Neeraj Pandey.

In this series, Zoya Afroz, Amrita Khanvilkar, Sharad Kelkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu and Anurag Sinha are in lead roles along with Emraan Hashmi. This series is the story of the high-tech world of airport customs and smuggling. Recently, Raghav M. Jayarath had a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar regarding this series. Here are some highlights..

Question: ‘Smuggling’ is being discussed everywhere. You are seeing the way the audience is reacting. How are you feeling?

answer: Feeling very good. I always say that this is our by-product when we create something good. Right now, I, my family, our entire team, artists and all the talents who were involved in it. Everyone is feeling on top of the world.

Question: Emraan Hashmi has uploaded a video in which he is thanking the audience, fans and you all. It is being said that this series got so much love. What would you like to say about this?

answer: I think Imran is absolutely right. The amount of love we are getting is the result of the team’s hard work. So much research was done on the story. The hard work of customs people is no less, they fight every day and fill the gaps in the system. Criminals keep creating new technologies, they stop them.

We were inspired by him only. Got a chance to co-direct with Neeraj Pandey sir. We are all happy, got a lot of love. I would also like to dedicate it to the customs department.

Question: Where did the idea for this story come from?

answer: Neeraj sir will be able to tell better. But while shooting at the airport, he keeps looking at the customs people. Asks questions while checking baggage, he seems curious. When Customs met people, their stories came to light. Those in uniform always get respect.

My Father was in Army, has Chandigarh connection. Traveled everywhere, felt the local culture. The idea of ​​showing customs came from there, salute to them.

Smuggling: The Smuggler’s Web releases on Netflix on January 14, 2026.

Question: Customs duty seems like a hero, but common people do not know its reality. You kept it real, no bullets-bombs, no hero feel. How did you balance reality and cinema so that it became engaging?

answer: Neeraj sir kept the script real. It was decided in the research that there would be no blowing up of vehicles, bombs or bullets. Custom people play with the mind. This is known before the bag check at the airport. Your body language and gait tell whether you have an extra phone, iPad or bottle or not. Like traffic police.

Question: You have worked with Neeraj Pandey as an assistant for years. It was independent after Discovery’s ‘Secrets’. When did you first know that you would be leading on ‘Taskari’?

answer: Research was going on during the ‘Secrets of Buddha’ documentary. Neeraj sir’s smuggling script was being written, I got interested. One day sir gave me the script and asked me to read it and make notes. Returned after 10 days, watched the final draft with Vipul ji.

On the reading of 5-6th episode suddenly Sir asked, “Would you like to do it?” I was shocked. That dream has come true. Neeraj sir gave him a chance, from here the journey of smuggling started.

Question: Was the casting being finalized at the time of the script reading or later?

answer: Neeraj sir first writes the story and then draws the characters on paper. In which personality, boundaries, dialogues are decided. Discussion started after the 7th episode. It was a tricky role, no one suggested the name. Neeraj sir took the name of Emraan Hashmi. Everyone agreed on the name of Emraan Hashmi.

Question: What was your feeling after hearing the name of Imran?

Answer: I liked it very much, because Imran sir is a fantastic actor. He played diverse roles in films like ‘Shanghai’ and ‘Haq’. Let’s experiment. Arjun looked perfect for the character of Meena. Got fit in a second. The results are in, the audience is liking his role and story.

Question: How was the first day of shoot? And you call actors by their character names, like Imran as Arjun. What kind of logic is that?

answer: No planned reason. I want to stay in the same world during shooting. Imran used to call Sir as Arjun and Amrita as Mithali. He used to call all the actors by the name of their character. One day Amrita said that my name is also Amrita. I said you are the same character till the shoot is over.

Question: How was the shoot with Emraan Hashmi on the first day?

answer: It was a very good experience. Neeraj sir came to guide. Outdoor shoot, all characters team together. Imran ji is a very professional and dedicated actor. They come with so much preparation that they show magic in the first take. It takes the first 2-3 days to settle.

Our crew was old, but giving command as a director was new for me. The first day was tiring, but on the last day people had become extremely emotional.

Question: When did you first meet Imran?

answer: The first meeting took place in the office itself. When he came to listen to the narration of the script. Went straight to Neeraj sir’s cabin. We thought that we would come out of the cabin after 2-3 hours, but Neeraj sir gave such a brilliant narration that we came out within 3-4 minutes. Then I did readings in the office for a few days and understood the character. Once flushed out, then got straight to the shoot.

Question: You spent so much time with Imran, what did you like best?

answer: He is a brilliant human being. Understands everyone’s hard work and treats everyone equally. He is a very dedicated actor. The dialogues are spoken so thoughtfully that the magic is visible in the first take. Emotion is visible in his eyes in the camera. Never left the set.

Question: How difficult was it to shoot at a live location like the airport?

answer: it was hard. Crowd used to gather to see Imran. Due to the crowd, many scenes had to be shot in 2 hours. One had to reach the airport 3-4 hours in advance to enter. Camera, junior artist all are scanned. If you have to take a costume, you don’t even get scissors. Make-up accessories were limited, even light trim was difficult. Once we went inside, we could come back only after packing up.

Question: Is the airport very crowded in the morning?

answer: Yes, the passengers would go to catch the flight, but would miss the flight to see Imran sir. The crowd was running here and there. We used to say that Imran sir went there and then used to shoot the scenes secretly. Sometimes someone was seen behind, so a retake had to be done.

Question: What did you find the most beautiful thing about the series, and which was the most emotional moment?

answer: The last day shoot was the most emotional because one had to be separated from the team. Then the work of editing, music and graphics started. Netflix fully supported and kept the deadline. Got discipline from the Army, but Neeraj sir’s level was different. Was at the forefront in Reiki. Used to stand on the set the whole day.

Raghav M. Jayarath has worked with Neeraj Pandey in many projects.

Question: You have worked with Neeraj Pandey in many projects. Before that, what was your experience and learning as a floor director in TV shows (KBC, Bigg Boss, Sach Ka Saamna)?

answer: It was a very different learning. Came into the industry in 2007. After watching the film ‘A Wednesday’, I wanted to connect with Neeraj sir. Before ‘Special 26’ I got a chance in TV. Sandeep Kaul, Anand Sir, Siddharth Basu, Huzaifa Bhai, Arun ji guided. Realism was high in non-fiction.

Question: Can’t take retakes on live shows on TV, how was the experience? What did you learn?

answer: Perfection is necessary in live, one does not dare to retake. When I was working with Neeraj sir in the film ‘Baby’, I learned from Akshay sir how easy retakes are. Retake also means taking the shot from a different angle. Saw Raw Talent on India’s Got Talent.

Children coming from small towns are motivated. Saw the passion of the crew above TRP. Neeraj sir, Sheetal Bhatia sir gave love, scolding and creative freedom. Gave a chance to co-direct from documentary to fiction.

Question: Initially when you were doing non-fiction shows. Did you ever feel star-struck when you met big stars like Amitabh Bachchan?

answer: Yes of corse. Such big artists have a different aura. The moment a person comes in front of them, he becomes a little lost. He is not just a character, he is a complete presence.

Question: How was your first meeting with Amitabh Bachchan?

answer: To tell the truth, no sound came out. The first time he said something to me, I was so nervous that I couldn’t understand what he said. Later he went to the control room and asked the people what they said. Everyone started laughing at me, but gradually I got used to it, but in the first meeting a person completely stops.

Question: And did this happen with other stars also?

answer: Yes, like I am a big fan of Madhuri Dixit. In a dance show, I had to go to the vanity to explain the script to him. He smiled and I just kept looking at him for 10–15 seconds. Then he himself made me sit, only then I became normal. Shahrukh Khan sir also came to the sets of KBC many times. Working with such big artists makes one more mesmerized by their aura than star-struck.

Question: Any memorable experience while working with Neeraj Pandey?

answer: Lots of. Watching him shoot is a lesson in itself. He does not start writing until he has complete clarity. Many times we read the script and think that the scene will be like this, but on the shoot they completely reverse it and that is the magic. With small things he changes the entire dynamic of the scene and the characters start looking very real.

Question: As a director, how is his relationship with the actor?

answer: According to me, all the actors like to work with him because he has complete understanding of his character. He has the answer to every question, the reason for everything. He also gives freedom to the actors, but he clearly knows how the character will move and behave. It is through this clarity that great collaboration happens.

Question: What do you have to say on the way he presented actors like Akshay Kumar, Sushant Singh Rajput?

answer: Wonderful. Sushant ji had worked very hard for ‘MS Dhoni’. Neeraj sir himself is a sports-lover, very athletic. He understands sports, so he is able to portray such characters very realistically. Be it Akshay sir, KK Menon sir, Emraan Hashmi, all the characters look very clean and real.

Question: What was the best and most critical feedback you received on ‘Taskari’?

Answer: The most beautiful feedback is that people are binge-watching the show. Most messages come between 3:30 and 5 pm. This means people are watching the show all night. Critical feedback is mostly personal opinion, as if someone wanted a character to be a little different. But it also shows that people are connected to the characters.

Question: Regarding a dialogue, people said that a mistake was made?

answer: Yes, in one scene a character says something wrong out of fear. People said that the dialogue is wrong. But it was kept like this intentionally, because the character was in shock. It is a compliment in itself that people are watching so attentively.

Question: Now that the show is getting so much recognition, what are your future plans?

answer: We want to create stories that take the audience on an emotional journey. Be it drama, thriller, fantasy, superhero or war, the genre does not matter, the story matters. A lot of scripts have been written, now we are putting them together. Will announce next project soon.

Question: Was any new script narrated to Emraan Hashmi during the shoot?

Answer: No. During the shoot we focus only on that project. Only after completing one task do we move on to the next, otherwise confusion occurs. Yes, there was a lot of talk related to stories and research. It was a great experience working with Imran ji and when the time comes, we will again pitch a new story to him.