Yogesh Mishra | yogesh@bollywoodtown.in
Onkar Nath Mishra is one of the renowned filmmakers, who made the critically acclaimed film ‘Dil Bechara Pyaar Ka Maara’ (2004), followed by a couple of more movies, and shot to fame in the industry. He is back with his dream project, the Aadi Shankaracharya web series, which is ready to release soon on OTT. In an exclusive interview with Yogesh Mishra, he spoke about his initial days, reason, and importance behind making the grand series “Aadi Shankaracharya”.
Can you define yourself?
I am a film maker who believes that without compromising on the entertainment values Films and TV shows should play a major role in creating healthy positive atmosphere in society so that goals to make a better world should be achieved. Massage of humanity should be conveyed through contents and ancient Indian cultural values and true history should be narrated in its pure form so that social, cultural and national values could be nurtured.
When did you realize first to try your luck in film direction too?
The day I watched my first movie I decided that I have to make movies. And not only make, write, produce, act and direct. And that is what I am doing. I have acted in many TV shows. I have written few films and now I am writing producing and directing my most ambitious show. 
Tell us something about your upcoming web series, Aadi Shankaracharya?
Aadi Shankaracharya is based on life and works of our greatest National hero Shri Aadi Shankaracharya. The Art of Living has presented it. Sri Sri Publication Trust and ONM Multimedia has produced it.
What exactly inspired you to make a web series on Aadi Shankaracharya?
This was my dream to tell the story of Shri Aadi Shankaracharya as it is socially most relevant subject. If you do not know about Shri Aadi Shankaracharya then perhaps you do not know yourself, your society, Nation and Dharm. He is the one who protected our country’s border and helped us discover our dharma. He inspired us to preserve our cultural existence, which else may have been gone. No one has contributed more than Aadi Shankaracharya to Indian society. I was so inspired by his life and work that I made it my mission that I must tell the story to the common people. And after 19 years of hard effort and struggle finally I have been able to complete the first season of the web series. 
What is the relevance of such web series in today’s era?
Actually, today we are in the same kind of situation from which Aadi Shankaracharya saved us in 8th century. That time Arab was attacking on North West border, today, Pakistan is conspiring against us. China was trying to Intrude that time in Badrikashram area of Uttarakhand Now they are trying to enter in Arunachal and Laddakh. That time, kings were fighting each other for their own self gain and politicians today are ready to burn this country to grab power.Common people were made to believe that Our cultural believe was wrong and in today’s time also same thing is happening. Our Dharma and Culture is being abused every day and is given all kind of names.We are being told that Sanatan dharm is like a disease, It should be abolished. The world is suffering today from religious fanaticism, terrorism, communalism, casteism, opportunism, division, deceit, lack of faith, and various sinister designs. Shri Shankar’s philosophy is answer to all these problems which are confronting humanity all over the world. Here he becomes most relevant and We wish that he should have been here to lead us in today’s time.
Your web series talks about the theory of “Nation First.” Who, according to your research work, has given this theory first?
Any theory and every theory which talks about protecting our Nation, Dharma and humanity has been given by Shri Aadi Shankaracharya. He has not only given the theories, he has lived it. For the upliftment of Nation and Dharma he renounced worldly consideration and left his home at age of 8. That time India was divided in more than 300 states. He travelled all over India met every king, convinced them with his philosophy of adwait and made them understand that they exist if greater Bharatvarsh exists. So, they have to unite together to protect the boundaries of Bharatvarsh then only they will be able to rule peacefully in their states. So, by seeding this thought of “Nation first” in Indian kings and common people Acharya Shankar secured the Indian boundaries in all four directions and as a result in next 200 hundred years No one dared to attack India. And not only “Nation first” he also spread the massage of ‘To serve than to rule’, ‘Business for public welfare rather than for personal benefit’. He initiated reforms like removing untouchability, saving environment, stopping animal and human sacrifice etc. As Writer he wrote many a book both in prose and poetry which still is a guiding force for Indian culture. 
As a director, how did you transform yourself from a commercial movie to a social-historical series like Aadi Shankaracharya?
I always wanted to make the subjects who are socially relevant and who depict the true history of India? So, there is nothing like transformation. It was just a passing phase where I was using and sometimes misusing my talent for the projects other people wanted me to do. Now I am doing what I want to do.
What next after Aadi Shankaracharya?
I have completed only first season of “Aadi Shankaracharya”. There are three more seasons after this. Second season work is going on. After completing This show, I intend to make movies on the characters who has given their entire life to protect this nation but their stories have never been told, actually purposely suppressed. I want Indian people to know about their real heroes.
Any message for the readers of “Bollywood Town”?
Where ever we are and whoever we are in whatever business we are, all our actions should be to straighten our nation. And yes, watch this show. It will give so many informations from history which has never been told.
