Telugu Actor Satyadev Kancharana talks with Subhash K Ja, about the challenge of playing his role of a fisherman straying into Pakistan in Amazon’s Arabia Kadali and more.
Arabia Kadali recreates a true-life incident of a fishermen’s boat straying into Pakistan. What prompted you to plunge into this project?
The moment I heard the script, I realised this wasn’t just about a boat crossing a border it was about human hearts crossing invisible lines. It’s about survival, hope, and the simple truth that the sea doesn’t know politics. I was drawn to the emotional depth of the story and the fact that it’s inspired by a real incident. As an actor, I’m always looking for characters which are rooted and close to the heart. Badri is exactly that. Plus, when a story lets you explore both raw human struggle and the grandeur of nature, it’s impossible to say no.
The part required a lot of physical acting. How much prep did you undertake for the part?
This was one of the most physically demanding roles I’ve done. We spent hours learning how to manoeuvre a fishing boat, handle nets, and simulate real sea conditions without actually being tossed overboard. There’s a rhythm to the work fishermen do, and I wanted to get that right. My trainer joked that by the end of the prep, I could probably pass as a part-time sailor. And of course, there was the physical conditioning because you can’t fake the stamina it takes to be at sea. We shot for 15 days in deep sea and it was one of my most physically demanding shoots.
Your character Badri is a fighter and a lover. How did you familiarize yourself with the character’s struggles?
I spent time talking to fishermen who have faced extreme situations from storms that could swallow you whole to being away from family for months. Badri has the grit to fight against odds, but his real strength is his heart. He’s a man who will go to war for love but also knows how to quietly endure pain. To understand him, I had to balance those two extremes the man who can brave a cyclone and the man who goes soft when the woman he loves is around.
Do you find the long narrative format more satisfying than the feature?
Yes, it’s incredibly satisfying because you’re not rushing the emotional beats. In a longer format, you can take the audience on a slow journey let them live with the characters, feel their silences, and understand their inner conflicts. It’s like writing a letter instead of sending a text there’s room to breathe, to elaborate, to layer. And as an actor, you can explore more shades without cutting corners.
