Sacred Games introduced the character of Batya Abelman (played by Kalki Koechlin) in season two. She is a follower of holy man and series villain Guruji (Pankaj Tripathi) but given his plans to destroy the city of Mumbai, fans were curious why the new character would follow such a man. The actor has now revealed all in a new interview.
Why did Batya Abelman decide to follow Guruji?
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Sacred Games
Sacred Games is India’s newest Netflix drama based on the novel of the same name by Vikram Chandra.
Season two was released on the platform last week and saw Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) attempt to stop the impending nuclear disaster facing Mumbai.
In the second outing, a number of new characters were introduced, including Batya Abelman who did not appear in the original novel.
Abelman is one of Guruji’s most devoted disciples in the hit series, following his practices religiously.
READ MORE: Sacred Games season 3 Netflix release: Will there be another series?
But as well as a holy man, Guruji is also the mastermind behind a horrific plan to destroy the city of Mumbai.
This all built up to the tense cliffhanger where Singh was left desperately trying to diffuse the bomb before it cut to black in the final moments.
Given that Abelman seemed to be a good character in the series, many fans were left wondering why she would follow such a man.
Now the actor Kalki Koechlin has spoken to India Today Online about her character’s motivations in the second series.
READ MORE: Sacred Games season 2: Who is Ranvir Shorey? Who plays Shahid Khan?
She told the publication that it was the pair’s similarities that drew them together.
She said: “They both are escaping from something and finding solace, they are making their own home, their own world because they didn’t grow up with a solid home.
“That loneliness, that feeling of finding some family is something they share. In a way, they both are family.”
Despite being only introduced in series two, Abelman was one of the show’s most popular additions.
This was in part due to the moral complexity her character was able to explore.
READ MORE: Sacred Games cast: Who plays Malcolm? Who is Luke Kenny?
The actor also spoke about this to the Indian publication, as she added: “She is obviously a very complex person, somebody who has embraced Guruji’s teachings, really believes in his vision.
“At the same time, she is struggling with her own vulnerabilities.”
Koechlin hinted this could lead to a growing relationship with the series lead if the show was to continue.
She told India Today Online: “It would be interesting to see her relationship with Sartaj.
“While she is the steady one, someone who’s giving him advice, one listening to him, there comes a point where she has that little moment of vulnerability where she tells Sartaj about her background and how she had a rough childhood.”
This could especially be the case as Guruji was killed in the last series so she might sway away from his teachings.
READ MORE: Sacred Games: Batya to betray Guruji for Sartaj in season 3?
Netflix has not yet confirmed if there will be another series of the show.
However, given its critical success and the dramatic ending of season two, it seems likely.
If the series was to return it would follow a whole new storyline to the book as it has exhausted its source material.
As a result, the showrunner Vikramaditya Motwane revealed in an interview with the Hindustan Times they would do things their own way in subsequent seasons.
He told the publication: “Should things go on we’ll make things up.”
Sacred Games season 2 is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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