Surveen calls Pankaj Tripathi 'walking, talking school of cinema' - Excl

In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Surveen Chawla talked about her role in Criminal Justice: A Family Matter, the show’s gripping family drama, and her experience working with Pankaj Tripathi. She shared what attracted her to the character and gives a glimpse of the fun and energy behind the intense courtroom scenes.

Excerpts...Criminal Justice: A Family Matter has been receiving positive reviews. Tell us something about it.I think it lives up to the legacy of the franchise built over the last three seasons. This time, it’s a bit different because it’s a family matter in the literal sense. Everyone is involved as a family unit. The story revolves around an estranged wife, a doctor husband, and a girlfriend—who, of course, ends up murdered. It’s a great watch that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing. I know many viewers are upset about not being able to binge-watch the show, but that’s the model the platform has chosen for this series, and it’s doing great numbers.How did you prepare for this role, and what drew you to this complex character?For me, Anju Nagpal—my character—is the emotional core, the epicenter of the show. She’s calm and composed, even in the middle of a storm, but she keeps everything suppressed inside. What drew me to the role was all this depth and more, which I can’t reveal right now. Beyond the character, the entire team was a huge draw—with fantastic actors like Pankaj ji, Zeeshan, Shweta, Meeta ji, Barkha, and even Ira, who plays my daughter.

Everyone was amazing. The cast and the director really matter to me. I’d wanted to work with Rohan for a long time, and when I finally got the chance, I knew I had to take it. Sometimes a project looks great on paper, but without a strong, capable team to support it, execution can suffer. For me, that’s a key factor in deciding to do a project. This one had all the right ingredients to make a great ‘dish,’ and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.Working alongside Pankaj Tripathi and other talented actors must be enriching. Can you share an experience from the set that stood out to you?I can’t really single out one experience because every scene we did together was special. There’s a quiet chemistry between Zeeshan and me, even though it’s from the past—the history is there, and you can see the lingering effect. Pankaj ji, to me, is a walking, talking school of cinema. What more can I say? We’re all huge fans of his, and working with him was incredible. Sharing the screen with him brings so much energy to the scene.

The collaboration on set is constant but very subtle—not in-your-face. He comes to work without the weight of his reputation, which is an amazing quality. His simplicity and no-nonsense approach are truly inspiring.Overall, it was wonderful working with every member of the cast. Even though some of us didn’t share many scenes, the days we did shoot together were great. With Rohan’s calm and composure directing us, every courtroom scene felt almost like a party—we’d be binging on food and snacks. So, while the show looks very serious on screen, behind the camera, it was all fun and laughter.