Mirzapur 3: Anjumm Shharma, who plays the ambitious Sharad Shukla in the popular show Mirzapur, has addressed the mixed reactions to the show's third season. In a conversation with ABP Ent Live, Shharma acknowledges the criticism but views it as a positive sign of audience engagement. He believes the initial focus on what was missing from season 3 compared to the previous ones is natural. After all, the story has progressed, characters have evolved, and the world has changed since season 1.
Anjumm Shharma on Mirzapur 3 criticism
"Criticism is a good thing because it's very important in the art form. Art doesn't necessarily have to make you happy or excited. Art can also unsettle you, whether it's a painting, a book, or a discussion. The purpose of art is to initiate a conversation,” Shharma said.
He noted that the audience's reaction and discussions about the third season have evolved over time.
“The day after the release, the conversation was about what was included and what wasn't. The series started with a story in 2017, which progressed, and then came season 2 where the story continued, characters changed, and the world evolved. The drama is progressing, the story is advancing, and naturally, there should be a conversation about it, and there is, which is a very good thing. A few days after the release, the conversation started about how different this season is, in terms of tonality, drama, and performances. The impact is the same because if it weren't, there wouldn't be such strong reactions, meaning people are connected to the characters and the story. If a show like Mirzapur is triggering conversations and becoming a part of them, that's a good thing.”
On comparison with previous seasons
Shharma also addressed comparisons with previous seasons and the ongoing criticism faced by the third installment. He said that even season 1 was sometimes criticised for its violence and strong language.
"Someone commented that season 1 had a certain flair and fun. Up until the release of season 3, whenever there was a conversation, people would always ask, 'Mirzapur is good, but there's too much violence. Interestingly, this season has less violence and profanity, yet there are still criticism. This indicates that the larger and more elaborate something is, the more discussion it generates, and there will be discussions from both sides, as there should be. There will be appreciation as well as criticism. As I said earlier, anything reaches its complete form only when there are opinions from both sides, for and against.”
Shharma also acknowledged how different viewing patterns among audiences lead to varying impacts.
“You have an audience that binged the entire show as soon as it was released at midnight, and you have another audience that watched three episodes, thought about it, then watched two more, pondered again, and then completed it. The journey of both these audiences is different, and so is the impact of the show on them.”
He even mentions fan-made videos dissecting the season, indicating audience engagement.
'Mirzapur needs to evolve every season'
Discussing the need for the show to evolve each season, Shharma pointed out that the show must adapt to appeal to an international audience.
“Many people have said that season 3 is visually better and has more drama than season 2. This time, the scale feels much larger. The story started in Mirzapur back in 2018, and since then, society has changed a lot, the world has changed, and viewers have changed. Your story has to evolve too. Now, you have to match international standards where the drama unfolds slowly, reaches a peak, triggers events, and then has an impact. This is a format that appeals to today's audience, even by international standards, and people have noticed. The response around the show is very positive.”
Mirzapur also features a stellar cast, including Pankaj Tripathi, Rasika Duggal, Shweta Tripathi, and Ali Fazal.