Bollywood News: Hunkkaar: The Roar has sparked conversations around justice, power and public perception, but for lead writer Heeraz Marfatia, the show's development process is equally important. In a recent conversation with Mid-Day, Marfatia argued that the entertainment industry needs to invest more heavily in writing and development before a project reaches production.
Marfatia serves as the show's developer, lead writer and co-director, and his comments focus on what happens behind the scenes before audiences see the finished series.
Heeraz Marfatia On Why Ideas Are Only The Beginning
According to Marfatia, a great idea is essentially the seed of a series. However, he believes that having a strong premise is not enough to sustain a multi-episode story.
He explained that series need carefully constructed worlds and developed characters. For him, the craft lies in taking an initial idea and building enough depth around it to support the entire narrative.
This distinction is particularly important for streaming shows, where viewers expect characters and conflicts to evolve over several episodes rather than being resolved quickly.
Hunkkaar Is About More Than One Allegation
Hunkkaar: The Roar centres on Meenu Rawat, a 17-year-old girl who accuses a powerful godman of sexual assault. Fatima Sana Shaikh plays ACP Jasleen Singh Soni, who investigates the case, while Aneet Padda plays Meenu.
The series also features Raghubir Yadav, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Arjun Mathur. It premiered on JioHotstar on September 25, 2026.
Marfatia said that the series is not simply about the accusation against the godman. He sees justice as the larger theme, particularly the feeling of powerlessness experienced by individuals in different circumstances.
The Importance Of Character Perspectives
For Marfatia, the story only becomes meaningful when its characters have an authentic relationship with the world around them.
He explained that the characters' viewpoints need to connect organically with the central story. This means the writers cannot simply create a dramatic premise and expect it to carry an entire series.
Instead, character motivations, personal histories and conflicting perspectives need to be developed carefully so that the audience understands why people behave in particular ways.
Why Development Often Gets Overlooked
One of Marfatia's strongest arguments concerns the development stage itself.
He believes development is often the most shortchanged phase of the creative process because much of its work remains invisible once a show reaches the screen.
Research, world-building, character creation and rewriting may not be directly visible to viewers, but they form the foundation on which the finished product depends.
Marfatia argues that the industry should therefore treat development as an investment rather than an unnecessary delay.
Better Writing Can Also Affect Revenue
The writer also connected creative development with the business side of entertainment.
In his view, stronger writing does not merely produce compelling stories. It can potentially improve the commercial performance of projects as well.
He argued that if a blockbuster film's writing were made stronger, there could be potential for even larger numbers. His broader point is that investment in storytelling can have both artistic and financial consequences.
Hunkkaar Brings Aneet Padda And Fatima Sana Shaikh Together
The series features Aneet Padda, who has been gaining attention following Saiyaara, alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh.
The combination gives the show a generational contrast, with Aneet portraying the teenager at the centre of the case and Fatima playing the investigating officer.
The crime drama uses their characters to explore competing pressures around truth, justice, authority and public perception. The subject has also generated viewer discussion since the series premiered.
Why Heeraz Marfatia's Comments Matter
The discussion around Hunkkaar goes beyond its subject matter. Marfatia's comments highlight a part of the entertainment business that audiences rarely see.
A finished series may appear to begin with its trailer or first episode, but its foundation is created much earlier through writing, development and character work.
For Marfatia, spending more time and resources at that stage could help the industry produce stories that are not only ambitious in concept but also strong enough to sustain audience interest.
As streaming platforms continue to expand the number of original shows being released, his argument places the spotlight on one basic question: how much investment should go into the story before cameras start rolling?
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