'The Scam', a rags to riches to rags story: Mehta

Director Hansal Mehta says his upcoming web series "The Scam", based on the mega securities scam of 1992, is a fascinating "rags to riches to rags" story.

Hansal's series is based on "The Scam: Who Won? Who Lost? Who Got Away?", an investigative book written by journalists Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu.

The first season of the web series will feature the story of stockbroker Harshad Mehta, who was charged with numerous financial crimes in connection with the scam.

"It is the chronicle of our times. Today, we are talking about Nirav Modi (a diamond trader who is wanted in the mega PNB bank fraud). I cannot talk about it more in detail.

"It is a fascinating tale of rags to riches to rags story and of somebody who is product of our times," Hansal told PTI when asked what is the most fascinating factor in one-time 'Big Bull' Harshad Mehta's story.

Hansal has already begun work on "The Scam" which is to be produced by Applause Entertainment.

"We are still writing it. The development process is on. I will direct it and will be creatively involved in it as well," the filmmaker says.

"The Scam" marks his second outing on the digital medium after "Bose: Dead/Alive", on which he was the creative producer.

"It is a different medium. You look for ways to tell stories. The kind of work that is happening on Netflix and Amazon, it is revolutionary.

"I am enjoying the process. I have decided to do one (web series) every 18 months," he says.

Meanwhile, there were rumours that Hansal will be working with Ayushmann Khurrana on a thriller.

But he says, "I am making a film with Rajkummar Rao. It is a different film."

When asked if it is part two of web series "Bose: Dead/Alive", that had Rajkummar portraying legendary freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, Hansal says, "Maybe. There is a lot of demand for season two, it might happen."