With Uttar continuing its journey beyond theatres, the film’s emotional impact has found resonance among audiences in deeply personal ways. For actor Abhinay Berde, the response to the film has been far more moving than he ever anticipated.
Speaking about how viewers reacted to his character after the theatrical release, Berde admits he was unprepared for the intensity of emotion the film would evoke.
“The response has been overwhelming. I never imagined people would cry this much after watching the film. While making it, I didn’t realise how emotional it would be for audiences.
People have come up to me, pulled my cheek, kissed me on the cheek, especially mothers and some even gave me ₹500 as a blessing. It has been beautiful and emotional in ways I never expected.”
Sharing screen space with seasoned performers also shaped his experience on set, particularly working alongside Renuka Shahane, who plays a key role in the film. Berde recalls feeling nervous initially, but credits her approach to performance for putting him at ease.
“I was a little scared initially, as we all tend to be when working with senior actors, especially those who have worked with your parents as well. I was nervous about facing the camera with her, but she made me very comfortable.
Renuka ma’am has a very spontaneous approach to performance. She never over-prepares or over-rehearses. She stays in the moment and creates magic, and that is something I truly admire and want to learn. Her approach didn’t change the way I played my character because I had a specific method to follow, but it helped immensely. We had different perspectives, and that worked well for portraying a mother and son who are not always on the same page.”
Much of Berde’s performance in Uttar relies on stillness and restraint rather than overt dialogue, a choice that demanded emotional precision. Describing the challenge of expressing inner turmoil without words, he explains the method behind his performance.
“Kshitij sir and I were very clear that we wanted to express most of his emotions through the eyes, and I really wanted to use my eyes to portray that emotion. I believe that for a character who is so restrained, who doesn’t speak much, and who doesn’t emotionally open up easily, it becomes essential to use the eyes to convey the intensity he carries within him — the emotional baggage he lives with.
So it was challenging. There were many things I had to think about and many memories I had to access — memories from the past that I had buried. All of them would come to the forefront, but it was important. Carrying that emotional weight for the character was necessary, and I believe it truly mattered.”
With the film now finding a second life on OTT, Berde feels stories like Uttar benefit from time and space rather than being judged solely by box-office numbers.
“Yes, I completely agree. OTT platforms give films a longer life, and smaller films like Uttar get the opportunity to be discovered by a much wider audience. That said, I still believe watching a film in theatres is important. But for those who couldn’t watch it there, the film has the potential to grow even more on digital.
Marathi films have always had the quality of growing far beyond their theatrical run once they come to television or digital platforms. They have that potential, and I am really excited to see what Uttar achieves on digital.”
As Uttar streams on ZEE5, reaching younger viewers and audiences beyond Maharashtra, Berde views this moment as part of a larger shift for Marathi cinema. He believes regional films are finally gaining the visibility they deserve, powered by new voices and digital platforms.
“As a young actor in the Marathi industry, I truly believe there is immense talent here — in acting, writing, and direction. We have such a rich culture and sahitya, with vast literary work and many directors who are simply waiting for an opportunity to reach a national or global stage.
The Marathi industry has not received the same backing from Bollywood that Malayalam cinema or other southern industries have. It hasn’t had the same kind of hand-holding. Yet, this year alone, Marathi cinema saw eight to nine new directors, and their films became some of the most prominent releases of the year. No industry in the world has experienced such a transformation in a single year.
Out of these, three films were from Zee Studios, and I had the opportunity to be part of two of them. I am very happy that Zee is playing such a significant role in this change — giving opportunities to new directors and, through ZEE5, providing their work with a much wider platform.
I strongly feel we need to highlight and celebrate these new directors who have achieved success with their very first films. This is not being talked about enough, and it truly deserves more attention.”
As Uttar continues to travel across screens and cities, Abhinay Berde’s journey with the film reflects a quiet but powerful truth — that emotionally honest stories do not fade with time. Instead, they grow through discovery, connection and shared experience, proving that Marathi cinema’s new wave is only just beginning.