Kay Kay Menon: Happy that I didn’t go by my instinct

Having led a film on Bhopal gas tragedy, Kay Kay says he was wary about doing The Railway Men; recalls how director Shiv’s vision and script changed his mind

Kay Kay Menon had doubts about fronting The Railway Men, and for good reason. The actor had starred in Bhopal Express (1999), which was based on the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the same subject that forms the backdrop of the Netflix series. What’s new here, he thought. That Yash Raj Films (YRF) was backing it made him all the more wary. “The project’s casting director told me about The Railway Men. Since it is [produced by] YRF, one thinks the project might get into a mainstream zone. Plus, I had done Bhopal Express earlier. So, I was doubtful about [exploring the subject again],” recounts the actor.

This is where the power of the script, penned by director Shiv Rawail and writer Aayush Gupta, kicked in. “When I read the script, I was floored. I wanted to meet the person who was making it. When I met Shiv, I thought, ‘He’s a kid!’ But when he started speaking, I understood his approach to filmmaking, and when I saw the set, I was happy that I didn’t go by my instinct,” laughs Menon. 

YRF Entertainment’s maiden web series—also starring R Madhavan, Divyenndu and Babil Khan—features Menon as station master Iftekaar, who risks his life to save people on the night of the gas leak. Since The Railway Men dropped online over the weekend, its lead actors have been earning acclaim for their compelling performances. 

It’s not easy to hold one’s own in an ensemble drama. Yet, each actor shines bright in the limited series. Sure, it has much to do with individual talent. But Menon also attributes it to something bigger—their collaborative nature. He believes that any actor, who desires to create legacy work, can’t afford to harbour insecurity and must approach every project as teamwork. “Sanskaar ki baat hai. I’ve never felt that I have to step into someone else’s space. The script and the project are greater than me. If that is accepted by the audience, all of us benefit. If that doesn’t happen, nothing else [works]. All of us have different parts to play [in the smooth functioning] of an engine, and if one starts to interfere with the other part, the engine will crash. So, we have to show professional maturity. This approach makes films last for posterity. Otherwise, it’s just a three-day business.” 

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