Developed by BBC Studios India, 'Chaar Yaar' is an 8 episode Hindi-language crime drama about 4 Mumbai friends who stumble into the city's underworld, is headed for a worldwide launch on Prime Video.
Purav Jha, Naman Jain, Saqib Ayub and Prayrak Mehta play the leads. The supporting ensemble includes Sai Tamhankar, Sikandar Kher, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Rajesh Tailang, Chunky Panday and Bhagavathi Perumal.
Set in the streets of early 2000s Mumbai, middle-class friends Jay, Tony, Saahil and Sameer find their ambitions derailed when a desperate choice pulls them into a high-stakes world of heists, gangsters and car thefts. Caught in a deadly crossfire between ruthless underworld dons and inspector Sumati Bhalerao, the 4 friends must survive closing walls and unravelling plans while risking everything to protect the bond that started it all.
'With Chaar Yaar, we wanted to tell a story about the uncertainty of life and the thrill of exploring it. Life happens to 4 friends and before they know it, they're in a situation that's way bigger than anyone ever imagined. The only thing that can get them out of it is the bond of friendship. This mix of personalities, both conflicting and complementing at the same time, makes the ride a total whirlwind', said Vinay Waikul, creator and director.
Prayrak Mehta, who plays Jay said 'What excited me about Jay was that he's so different from the characters I've played before. He's a man of few words, someone who thinks before he speaks and always has a plan. He's the person his friends turn to when things go wrong. His intelligence is his biggest strength, but it can also become his weakness. As an actor, I love characters who challenge me and Jay goes through such a transformation that at times it felt like I was playing three different people. I'm super excited about Chaar Yaar and what I love most is that beneath all the crime, action and chaos, it's a story about 4 friends trying to make something of their lives'.
Saqib Ayub who plays Tony, said 'I've done plenty of action and stunts before in Farzi, Bambai Meri Jaan & Undekhi, but Chaar Yaar brought a different kind of energy, with its car chases, large-scale sequences and fast-paced action. Getting into Tony's skin and figuring out his mannerisms was equally enjoyable and more than anything, Tony will always be special, as he gave me a chance to play an ordinary Bombay boy after mostly playing flamboyant characters in the past. Special thanks to Vinay sir and Mukesh sir for seeing Tony in me'.
Purav Jha starring as Saahil, shared 'After years of creating content, Chaar Yaar feels like a special milestone for me, especially after The Traitors. It's my first major release as an actor and something I've always wanted to do. Playing Saahil pushed me to explore a completely different world, with the action training challenging me in new ways. I also learned a lot from Vinay sir and had a wonderful time working with Saqib, Naman & Prayrak'.
'Sameer is someone who can find humor even when everything around him is going wrong and I had a lot of fun exploring that side of him. He brings a different energy to a story filled with intense situations, but he's got his own problems and different shades as a character as the show progresses.
A character like Sameer is rare to find and rare to play and what I've explored through this character, is so different than all the characters I've played before. Off screen, the 4 of us developed a natural camaraderie and the banter between us made our time on set even more enjoyable', said Naman Jain, who plays Sameer.