Karan Tejpal grew up in a small town in Hisar, with a wonderful history of travel to far-flung places with his father, who was in the army. Life for him settled down when he went to boarding school, Mayo College, in Ajmer, where his next six years were spent playing sports, particularly polo and engaging in endless tomfoolery. ‘We had the time of our lives away from the scrutiny of our parents,’ recalls Karan. ‘Honestly, aspirations were quite simple then. The internet had not yet reached Ajmer. There were no phones. As a teenager, I thought I would have a career as a professional sportsman. I did that until the end of college, after which the reality of the real world steered me to Bombay and eventually, to film.’
With nearly two decades of dedication, Karan honed his skills, evolved into a filmmaker of distinction and continues to push the boundaries of his craft. Now, his debut film Stolen, after doing a long and illustrious festival journey [Stolen received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival], has been released on Prime Video. The film is inspired by real events and a desire to explore complex societal issues, drawing on a gripping narrative inspired by a tragic incident in Assam. The story follows the transformation of the protagonist, an exploration of a man thrust out of his comfort zone and forced to confront the harsh realities of the world around him.
'It was really a dream come true to take my film to Venice [Film Festival]. And it was an honour to represent India at the festival. The significance of the Venice Film Festival is amplified by the fact that the legendary Indian filmmaker, Satyajit Ray, began his journey by winning the Golden Lion. As I stood on this esteemed stage, I was motivated to follow in the footsteps of the great master and keep pushing the boundaries of my craft.’ Excerpts from our conversation are below.
Can you tell us how the seed of the story was sown?
Stolen is inspired by true events. The story of the Bansal brothers stems from a 2018 incident in Assam, where two men were brutally lynched by an enraged mob who mistook them for child kidnappers, fueled by falsified videos that had spread rapidly on WhatsApp. That tragedy became the seed for the film’s narrative and characters. At its core, the film explores the transformation of its protagonist—a man forced out of his bubble, confronted with a harsher reality, and compelled to see the world through new eyes. As I began researching what came to be known as “WhatsApp lynchings,” I uncovered the broader social crisis behind the incident. On one side, there is the collective fear among impoverished communities desperate to protect their children. On the other hand, the unimaginable grief of parents who fall victim to that very fear.
How did the idea come and how did you develop the story with Gaurav Dhingra?
The idea for Stolen began with a video I saw of the 2018 mob lynching in Assam. It left a knot of fear in my stomach—a visceral reaction that became the root of the story. I felt stuck, and the only way I knew to process it was to write. Over a year, that emotional impulse evolved into a thirty-page treatment, which I shared with Gaurav at the end of 2019.
He immediately saw the story’s potential. We both gravitated toward an action-thriller approach—something that also carried the tension of social horror, using long takes to preserve a sense of urgency and real-time momentum. At the time, Gaurav was working with writer Swapnil, and the three of us began developing the screenplay together. It was a slow, steady process, stretched out over three years and disrupted by multiple waves of COVID, but we stayed committed. I rely heavily on research and rewriting in my process, and with this project, I wrote so many drafts I eventually lost count. But through it all, our belief in the story never wavered.
Could you talk a little about how you found your cast and what sort of performances you were hoping them to deliver?
The casting was driven purely by the strength of each actor’s craft, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better ensemble. With only five primary characters, every role had to carry weight, and each actor brought something unique and powerful to the table. Abhishek is undoubtedly one of the finest actors working today. His style is honest, instinctive, and deeply rooted in spontaneity. Casting him as Gautam Bansal was an easy decision. A consummate professional, he read the script within days and came on board without hesitation—it was a very straightforward process. Chemistry between characters was crucial, especially for the dynamic between the Bansal brothers. I was keen to cast actors with a real-life connection, and Abhishek suggested his friend Shubham. From our first meeting, I knew I wanted to work with him. He’s a meticulous, highly trained actor who can inhabit any character. I had already seen Mia’s short film, which left no doubt in my mind that she was perfect for Jhumpa. She’s an exceptional collaborator—deeply committed, emotionally present, and willing to give everything to the work.
Do you remember your first day on set?
A film set feels like home to me. I spent the first six or seven years of my career working at a relentless pace as an assistant director, which gave me a deep familiarity with every aspect of filmmaking. That foundation made the transition to directing feel natural—I never felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of giving direction or fielding questions. Every day on set was a thrill. We were all in it together, just having fun and pushing ourselves to try something bold and a little bit crazy.
What’s next for you?
Over the past year, I’ve been working on two major projects as a screenwriter. One is a feature film for Mira Nair, based on an original story by her. Collaborating with one of my professional heroes has been an incredibly enriching experience—both exciting and humbling. It’s challenged me in the best possible ways and helped me grow immensely as a writer.
The second is Dahaad Season 2, a highly successful Amazon Prime Video series created by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar. I’m leading the writers’ room for this season, which comes with a much larger set of responsibilities. It’s a thrilling challenge to shape a story that lives up to the high expectations set by the first season, and I’m fully invested in delivering a compelling, edge-of-your-seat narrative. Alongside these, I’m also developing two feature films that are very close to me. Nisaar (Sacrifice) is a romantic thriller and a deeply personal project. It’s being produced by Dheer Momaya and Jonathan Charbit. The other is Ummeed, a horror film written by Abhishek Banerjee and produced by Dimpy Agarwal. It’s an exciting opportunity that allows me to delve into a genre that has fascinated me for years.
Words Hansika Lohani
11.06.2025
