
Created by filmmaker Ram Madhvani, web series Aarya has finally started streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. It marks the return of Bollywood diva Sushmita Sen after a gap of five years. She was last seen in Bengali movie Nirbaak. The web series also stars Chandrachur Singh, Sikandar Kher, Ankur Bhatia and Namit Das among others. Aarya tells the story of a woman whose husband is involved in the narcotics trade and is one day shot dead by his competitors. From here on, she takes charge of the family business and makes sure she protects her three children from the enemies.
Ever since Aarya was announced, Sushmita has been quite excited about its release. She has been sharing photos and videos from the sets of Aarya. In one of the videos, the actor shares what she likes about her character Aarya. “What I like the most about her is, you can’t put her under any definition, she is as raw as any other human emotion,” Sen said.
Neerja fame Ram Madhvani got the idea of making Aarya after watching Dutch series Penoza nine years ago. After struggling on how to adapt it for the Indian audience for many years, he got the idea for its Hindi adaptation while travelling on a train. “I was travelling on a train and I asked the TC what are these flowers outside the window. He told me those are opium fields. That’s when it occurred to me how to root this. I said now I know how to make it culturally in an Indian context,” Madvani shared while talking about Aarya’s inception in a making video.
"#Aarya web series...Well written... brilliant performance by the beautiful @thesushmitasen What a comeback..this is how comeback is done. mind blowing So good to see chandrchur singh after long time. its a must watch..go and watch it.. @DisneyPlusHS," @ashutosh2369 said via Twitter.
"Discipline, focus & controlled intensity!!! ???? WHAT AN ACTOR @chaudhari_manish ?? Introducing #shekhawat in #Aarya What a suave character, a ruthless one in Aarya, yet in real life is the gentlest soul...an absolute Gentleman!!!??? I will forever cherish the grace he showed me in the most difficult of Scenes!!? I can’t wait to work with him again...so much to learn!!!??? Here’s wishing you every happiness & success, you so richly deserve Manish!!!???? #blessed I love you guys!!!??" Sushmita sen wrote on Instagram.
"Just finished watching #Aarya - the story, the screenplay, the acting - all top notch !! #SushmitaSen where were you for so long ma’am. ? WHAT A PERFORMANCE! @RamKMadhvani take a bow! This is in the level of any international show out there," @RatheeshMani shared on Twitter.
"Just finished Watching #Arya on Disney + hotstar...what a roller coaster ride it was. All the 9 episode keeps me hooked the detailed work of everything...loved every bit of it? @thesushmitasen what a comeback. loved ur work..So soo beautifully done. Watch it guys it's osm," Twitter user @akash_wagh_ wrote.
"@thesushmitasen You are such an inspiration. I admire you the most. Humble and so down to earth. Loved watching #aarya so glad you are back on screen,"@harshit113 said via Twitter.
Sharing her views about Aarya, Kirron Kher tweeted, "All the best to Team #Aarya, which is launched today on Disney Hotstar. And a special blessing for my own @sikandarkher. Do watch it guys. It’s outstanding ♥ @DisneyplusHSVIP."
Sharing a photo with actor Namit Das, Sushmita Sen wrote on Instagram, "This one is an institution by himself..he sings like a dream, dances with abandonment, writes powerfully & travels for inspiration!!! He’s ALSO an Actor!! #phewwww ????Introducing #Jawahar @namitdas in #Aarya ? He doesn’t Act...he becomes!!! #natural #rockstar ?? ?I have learned so much from you Namit, Thank you for being such a generous co star!!! ??? I love you guys!!!!"
"Started watchin #Aarya 7 episodes down.. Onto 8th, Grippin n intense n so good to see @thesushmitasen back in action in a strong n fierce role Worth the wait @sikandarkher subtle n fab as well, wish we got to see more of him," @Ruth4ashab wrote on Twitter.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared on Twitter, "Rarely do you witness such character detailing in an #Indian series... #Aarya on @DisneyplusHSVIP keeps you glued from beginning till end... Excellent storytelling by @RamKMadhvani about family and crime... @thesushmitasen pitches in a fab act. #MustWatch"
"Comeback and how!! I had been waiting to watch @thesushmitasen back on screen and #Aarya is surely a treat to watch. She brings grace, grit and panache to the character and keeps you hooked to the show. A must watch over the weekend on @DisneyplusHSVIP," Sreedhar Pillai wrote on Twitter.
"Thanks @DisneyPlusHS for bringing back the actors like @thesushmitasen@chandrachoorsingh.Only watched first episode and I felt where were you guys for so long... #Aarya," @iamnischay007 said via Twitter.
"Watched #Aarya on @DisneyPlusHS and must say what a powerful comeback of @thesushmitasen. Loved her performance, Strong characters. A good suspense thriller to watch," @itsHimanshu_G said via Twitter.
"#AaryaReview: Very rarely do you come across #Hindi web series that marries form and content so beautifully. #Aarya is a hi-octane thriller and the thrills, stunts and pace - vital for any thriller to strike a chord - are sure to keep you on the edge from Scene A to Z," @SinhaSomesh wrote on Twitter.
Chandrachur Singh described his experience of working on Aarya as a “moving experience”. He said, “When I was approached for Aarya, I felt it was right. I believe deeply in my instinct and intuition. I felt it was the right time for things to happen. The vibe I got from the people was just right. Then I came to know that Sushmita was a part of this too, and we were supposed to work together years ago, but it never happened. So I started believing strongly that some things happen because it is the right time for them to happen.” Read more
"#Aarya Brilliance is the word.... Honestly can't wait for the season 2 ... Complete roller coster @thesushmitasen fabulous and gorgeous as always ..so happy to see u back," @tadkaamarke wrote on Twitter.
During an interaction with indianexpress.com, Sikander Kher shared his experience of working with Sushmita Sen. "She is an amazing co-star. So much fun, energetic, always on call, constantly thinking and trying to add to the scene. We all had a great time with her. She is a pleasure to work with. She is very friendly and such a regular, down-to-earth person. She doesn’t take her stardom seriously. So, it was peaceful," Kher said. Read more
'#AaryaReview: #Aarya is a solid entertainer loaded with attitude and star power. It is @DisneyplusHSVIP's finest web series so far and whets your appetite from the word 'Go'. For film-makers that tread a similar path, it's going to be an added responsibility to go beyond #Aarya,' @SinhaSomesh tweeted.
"Just now finished #Aarya @thesushmitasen U nailed it. Where the hell u were for so long. What a performance" wrote Twitter user @navneetraj22.
While promoting Aarya, Sushmita Sen shared, 'I had to learn how to go from a larger than life screen to an intimate screen since OTT is an intimate platform. It was a 360-degree approach to play Aarya. His (Ram Madhvani) technique of shooting Aarya was that a full day of shooting goes on, there are no cuts, no over-shoulder, no close-ups. I haven’t looked at the monitor even once to see how I was looking.' Read more
"It’s looking SLICK. Sush’s charisma is balanced by #ChandrachurSingh’s elegance & simplicity. Had forgotten how brilliant both these actors are! Also Namit Das has a simmering intensity. Looks like Ram Madhvani has ANOTHER winner on his hands after #Neerja," @SavarSuri wrote on Twitter.
"Fashioned as a crime thriller with a strong emotional core, Aarya sets up quite a pace. It moves swiftly, and that is its best quality because while the solidly written plot, detailed characters and smooth storytelling are all to the good, there are also the dips, contrived scenes, and loose ends, which we don’t quite have the time to dwell on. By the time we notice a flat register, we are already on to the next thing," writes Indian Express' Shubhra Gupta in her review of Aarya.
Also read | Aarya review: The Sushmita Sen-starrer is taut and enjoyable
An hour before the release of Aarya, Boman Irani wrote on Twitter, "Can’t wait to watch #Aarya an hour or so from now. The team is so very charged and going by the spunky trailer the expectations are high. Can’t wait, dear friend @RamKMadhvani @thesushmitasen #ChandrachurSingh @officialrmfilms @DisneyplusHSVIP @EndemolShineIND #AmitaMadhvani."