Tahir Raj Bhasin's Return to Villainy in Special Ops 2

New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) — Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin felt like the new kid at school when he joined the sets of Neeraj Pandey's "Special Ops 2," but he was embraced warmly. Bhasin plays the antagonist in the series.

Bhasin first gained attention with his role in the Rani Mukerji-starrer "Mardaani" in 2014 as a villain. His other notable works include "Chhichhore," "Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein," and "83."

In "Special Ops 2," Bhasin portrays 'Collector,' a character described as "part gangster, part tech tycoon."

"It's been nearly a decade since I last played an antagonist. What excites me about the 'Collector' in 'Special Ops 2' is his status as a rebel with a cause," Bhasin told PTI.

In this season, Kay Kay Menon's character Himmat Singh deals with cyber terrorism as an AI scientist goes missing at a tech summit. The show, which premiered on JioHotstar on July 18, also includes Karan Tacker, Vinay Pathak, and Muzammil Ibrahim.

Bhasin admitted the challenge of joining a well-loved show in its second season. "It felt like being the new boy in school, where everyone already knows each other. But the cast was very warm and welcoming. Karan was particularly friendly. Spending time with Kay Kay Menon off the set was enlightening; it felt like meeting a senior from college who just gets life a little more," he said.

"Every conversation with Kay Kay was enlightening... What I admire in his work is his authenticity and truthfulness to the character. He doesn't judge the character, which is something I aim to carry into my own work," Bhasin added.

This made his onscreen clashes with Menon feel like a real compliment. "I am drawn to leading roles that are disruptive... As the narrative unfolds, you see why my character acts in particular ways, and there's a mystique to him. In his mind, he’s a sort of reformer. One line that sticks with audiences is, 'I am also in the business of cyber security, just on a different side.'" Bhasin noted that unlike traditional antagonists, his character is all about intellect.

"If this show had released 10-15 years ago, it might seem like sci-fi. But now, with so many real cyber and financial attacks, it's all too relevant," he said.

Bhasin is currently shooting for a Netflix show with Parineeti Chopra, directed by Renzil D'Silva.

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