Kota Factory actors Jitendra Kumar, Tillotama Shome, and Rajesh Kumar on why TVF cares, and OTT matters

TVF or The Viral Fever has been one of the trailblazers in the digital entertainment space. After the initial success of its web series Permanent Roommates, TVF Pitchers, and TVF Tripling, the Arunabh Kumar-founded company launched Kota Factory—a series around the IIT and medical-aspirants, and the popular entrance coaching industry of Kota. 

Shot entirely in monochrome (black and white), Kota Factory depicts aspirants’ struggle to enter top-tier colleges. For its second season, TVF collaborated with Netflix in 2021. 

Yesterday, the Tiger Global Management-backed video content company released the third season of Kota Factory. On the sidelines of the launch, YS Life caught up with actors Jeetu Bhaiya aka Jitendra Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, and TVF debutant Tillotama Shome, to understand what makes them so stoked about the show. 

A co-incident of sorts

Shome, known for her intense characters and serious performances (Sir, Lust Stories 2, A Death in the Gunj) plays the role of a chemistry teacher in Kota Factory 3. 

“I was aware that Kota Factory was a very loved show, and that Jeetu Bhaiya is a very beloved (character). But it wasn’t really the success of the show that attracted me,” Shome tells YS Life.

The actor believes that while there are plenty of successful shows; it was truly meeting the founders of TVF that drew her into the role. “The fact is how they built TVF and how they gave voices to the stories that no one was telling… I felt I entered a building that had a very strong foundation. And if the foundation is so strong, you can build many floors on it, you can really scale up,” Shome says.  

“While I was not a part of the difficult and rewarding part of the journey, I was really attracted to the fact that it had been built in the first place, and I wanted to be a part of it,” she adds. 

Having said that, it was really the cause behind the show that got Shome interested in the role; and the “Sheer coincidence of the life of an actor coinciding with reality.” 

It was after she met with the TVF team that Shome found her news feed flooded with the news of students ending their lives in Kota. 

“In my mid-40s, I value the importance of young people and how it relates with me, and I believe that if I care for the future, I must engage with them… Kota Factory cares for these young people, it fills a void. The reason, I feel, it has gotten so much love is because of the population whose dreams and aspirations were completely ignored by us. I feel TVF figured this gap and that’s why they enjoy the success that they have.” 

Real-life experiences 

After having braved the initial preparation and relentless academic pressure, in the latest season of Kota Factory, students brace themselves for the IIT-JEE exam. Mentor Jeetu Bhaiya, aka Kumar, is on his own journey to discover his calling, with the uncertain fate of the students hanging in the balance.

Kumar, once a student in Kota himself, and an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, says he brings his experiences to the set. “I think of the times and instances where someone had inspired me (in Kota) or how someone felt when I helped them—I try bringing in those emotions sometimes…I do go with the director’s instincts, but I also seek inspiration from my own experiences,” he adds. 

The versatility of OTT 

Seasoned actor Rajesh Kumar, of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai fame, returns as Gagan Rastogi in Kota Factory. Having worked in the television and film industries, Rajesh believes that unlike the other forms, OTT is not limiting. 

“You get to explore more genres… There’s more variety. And because the content is short-form, lasting about five to 10 episodes, you’re more alert… As an actor, you get more importance in the OTT space,” he says. 

Shome agrees, and continues: “The OTT space has invited a lot of incredible writers—who are not necessarily from Mumbai or the film industry; but from different backgrounds and parts of India, and lives.” 

This, she believes, has led to the telling of stories that are off the beaten track. “These stories with unique voices have opened the space for actors who are not necessarily ‘stars’. The characters they are playing are more important than their own personas… Thanks to the writers, that this space is so inviting,” Shome explains. 

Kumar is of the opinion that the stories told on OTT, and the characters depicted, have a “Certain kind of authenticity.” 

“When these actors play the characters, they have to be authentic themselves…Talent plays a more important role in OTT, allowing more actors opportunities to work on OTT,” he adds. 

Additionally, Kumar continues, with a larger reach and authenticity, OTT writers get the opportunity to experiment more. “OTT has changed the entertainment industry, giving more writers and actors the opportunity to work and experiment.”

What’s next? 

“Comedy, comedy, comedy!” Shome says. 

“I have done very intense work. My husband loves comedy and action, so I would love to give comedy or action a shot so that my marriage can have another good innings,” the actor jokes. 

For Rajesh, playing a negative role is next in his bucket list. “Negative comes naturally to me,” he laughs. Besides that, the actor also wishes to experiment with writing. 

After his recent success with Panchayat, Kumar wants to try his hand at production. “I feel a lot of stories are not being told, they have a good space and I want to explore that someday,” he concludes.