Digital creator Ashish Chanchlani took a bold leap from YouTube sketches into large-scale storytelling with his sci-fi web series Ekaki, and in a recent interview he revealed just how ambitious the production became.
Ekaki’s Budget Reached Feature Film Levels
Chanchlani said the budget for Ekaki soared during production so much so that it ended up comparable to the cult horror-fantasy film Tumbbad, which was known for its high production values for its scale. Planning expenses and shoot days pushed costs up quickly, demonstrating how producing cinematic content for the digital space can be both expensive and risky.
Learning From Action Pros Behind “Ramayana”
To bring its telekinetic battles and sci-fi action to life, Chanchlani brought on Force Square, a professional action and stunt team that is also working on the highly anticipated epic film Ramayana. According to Chanchlani, the action crew found the wirework and sequences in Ekaki “just as challenging” as those they are choreographing for Ramayana, where massive set-piece battles and long takes are expected.
Strong Audience Response for the Finale
Despite the hurdles, Ekaki resonated strongly with audiences. The finale of the series reportedly crossed over 20 million views shortly after release, a notable achievement for long-form content on social platforms where shorter videos traditionally dominate. Chanchlani credited authenticity and creative risk-taking for the strong engagement.
Chanchlani: Creative Risks and Future Plans
Reflecting on his experience, Chanchlani said the journey from comedy sketches to producing a sci-fi narrative taught him the value of stepping outside comfort zones. He emphasized that risks are essential in pushing Indian digital content into new territory, and hinted that he’s ready to undertake even bigger storytelling challenges in the future.