‘The Trial’ director Umesh Bist doesn’t believe in reining in his actors to churn out great performance

Director Umesh Bist’s Secret to Getting Top Performances from Kajol and Jisshu in ‘The Trial’ Season 2

Mumbai: Get ready for some exciting behind-the-scenes insights from the world of Indian web series! Director Umesh Bist, who’s steering the upcoming second season of the hit streaming show ‘The Trial’, recently opened up about his go-to method for drawing out stellar performances from stars like Kajol and Jisshu Sengupta. In a fun chat with ahead of the release, Umesh shared tips that kept everyone, including the actors, laughing throughout.

When asked how he gets his actors to deliver their best, Umesh had a straightforward answer. "Never try to control your actors—that’s a mistake," he said with a grin. "Instead, become part of their world and join the gang." It’s all about building that connection on set, and it clearly works wonders for the ‘The Trial’ cast.

Umesh also talked about diving deep into the show’s roots. As a huge fan of the original American series ‘The Good Wife’, which inspired ‘The Trial’, he came in with a clear vision after binge-watching the first season. "The source material is super rich, and I knew exactly how I wanted to tell the story," he explained. Teaming up with Kajol as the lead, Jisshu, and a talented crew made it even better. But season 2 brought its own challenges, especially with the writing.

The original ‘Good Wife’ season 2 spans over 27 episodes, but ‘The Trial’ packs it all into just six half-hour episodes. "We had to condense everything, capture the essence, and adapt it perfectly to our Indian context," Umesh shared. Stars like Kajol and Jisshu jumped in with ideas, creating a solid foundation. By the time they hit the set, the actors were super prepared yet totally spontaneous—leading to those magic moments on screen.

If you’re a fan of gripping legal dramas like ‘The Trial’ web series, this season promises more twists and strong performances from Kajol in ‘The Trial’ and Jisshu Sengupta. Mark your calendars—’The Trial’ season 2 drops on JioHotstar on September 19, 2025. Can’t wait to see how Umesh’s ‘join the gang’ approach plays out!