Exclusive/ Poacher Director Richie Mehta Speaks About Alia Bhatt’s Association With The Web Series

Richie Mehta’s crime drama Poacher, set against backdrop of elephant hunting, is now streaming on OTT. Hindi-Malayalam series explores heart-wrenching tale of ivory poaching and trophy collection in India. It is said to be loosely inspired by real-life incidents that took place in Malayattoor, Kerala involving crime syndicates and international smuggling rackets.

In a conversation with Republic Digital, director of Poacher, Richie Mehta talked about taking up an eco-conscious web series after exploring dark world of crime in his International Emmy-winning show Delhi Crime.

How Richie Mehta came across idea of a Poacher?

Richie shared that idea to create Poacher came to him while he was filming Delhi Crime. He said a real-life poaching incident in Kenya nudged him to weave a story around crime against endangered species. “When news broke out in Kenya that last male Norrn Kenya white rhino h passed away, making species extinct, it was straw that broke camel's back for me,” director shared.

Richie Mehta reveals how Alia Bhatt came on board Poacher as Executive Producer  

Amal director revealed that after completing final draft of Poacher, he was thinking of a way to market it and that’s when he met Alia Bhatt.

“She was first person to watch all eight episodes outside of our production house," Richie shared. director furr shared that Alia was so moved after watching show that she asked him, “How can I help cause?” It was n that Richie and his team thought, “Hey, this is one way this could work. So she came on board after we finished.”

Before its release, Alia came on board as Executive Producer, bringing show into mainstream.

Richie Mehta reacts to audience's reception of Poacher

Poacher has been receiving positive reviews, with many praising how director has managed to blend his knack for presenting gritty crime drama with an eco-conscious storyline. Reacting to reception of series, Richie shared, “It was very gratifying to know that people are appreciating Poacher. People are thrilled by experience of it and series has forced a kind of introspection individually. A lot of people are messaging me about re-evaluating, rethinking ir relationship to life around m, which is very moving to me because that's what experience of this project did for me.”