LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The world of ‘Sweet Tooth’ is as horrifying as it is beautiful, as we see beautiful hybrid creatures wandering the world ravaged by a pandemic that is simply called ‘The Sick’. People are trying to save themselves from the life-threatening flu and just like we needed a cure for Covid-19, the people in the show are also looking out for a cure that could solve all the problems. In the middle of this chaotic journey, we see Dr. Aditya Singh (Adeel Akhtar) doing everything possible to find a cure, especially for his wife Rani Singh (Aliza Vellani) who is also suffering from the same disease. The couple found itself in a dangerous situation in the Season 1 finale as General Abbot was able to capture them and force Aditya to work on the cure.
Rani is one of the most important characters in the series and it’s quite evident that her role in the upcoming season will be more significant than the previous edition. She is trying hard to keep her husband sane and also giving him the reassurance that nothing can come between them even if he is not able to find the cure. To shed light on what’s going to happen in ‘Sweet Tooth’ Season 2, MEAWW caught up with the supremely talented Aliza Vellani to discuss the show and how Rani’s story is going to enter a new direction in the upcoming edition.
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Congratulations on 'Sweet Tooth' Season 2. We'll talk about the show in a bit, but we wanted to know how your journey has been as an actor. You have a degree in Theatre and it has been a significant part of your career. You have done a lot of stage plays and that's how you paved your way to the mainstream media. Can you please tell us about your experience in theatre?
Vellani: When 'Little Mosque' was nearing the end, I was in high school and I had to decide if I want to stay in TV and film or did I want to go to school. I knew that I wanted to get a background in theatre because it is such an incredible craft and it would have been an amazing time to explore the world of theatre. So in those four years at Simon Fraser University, I had the incredible privilege of learning under amazing teachers and exploring theatre. Theatre has such a close place in my heart because you really get to find new ways to tell stories. Also, the most daunting part of theatre is that you can't say cut and then do the scene again, you have to put it all on. So that's always been a nervous part for me, but it's also an exhilarating part. So I think that theater is always going to be something that is very interesting for a lot of actors, myself included.
Let's talk about 'Sweet Tooth'. What a wonderful show and your character Rani is such a brilliantly written character. A lot of weird things take place in Rani's life in Season 1 and she is still in captivity. Can you give us some scoop (without any spoilers) as to what's waiting for Rani in the upcoming season?
Vellani: So without giving any spoilers away, Rani still has a lot of adventure. In Season Two, the Singhs are in a new place and you see Dr. Aditya Singh doing everything to find this cure. Meanwhile, you see Rani having to find her own peace with the choices that they've made and the choices they will continue to make in this season. So I'm very excited for everyone to see where Rani goes and season two, I can't say too much. But there will be a few surprises that I think everyone will really, really enjoy.
You were promoted to series regular in season 1 after shooting the pilot episode. Tell us how you felt when you heard the news
Vellani: That was a huge surprise to me. If you look at the original comics, Dr. Singh's wife, you know, dies from the sick at the very, very beginning of the comics. So even when we filmed the first episode, I thought that that was it. I thought it was one episode and if I was coming back, it would be in a flashback or something like that. I really wasn't expecting anything else. I had loved working with the entire team and then it was in the middle of the pandemic that I found out that they wanted to expand the character of Rani and really give her a story of her own that could work alongside Dr. Singh. It still blows my mind to this day, I always tell Jim Mickle, the showrunner, that I'm so grateful, but I'm also really humbled that I had the opportunity to play such an incredible character like Rano. She is such an empowering and strong female character. In Television, we're just starting to see these kinds of female characters come out, I was really grateful that they took the opportunity to expand Rani's character and show another side in this story of a married couple in this scenario of a pandemic. So I thought that was really exciting and I really wasn't expecting it, it really blew me away. But it's been an amazing journey so far.
As an actor of Indian origin, do you feel ecstatic that things are changing and the stereotypes of getting cast in the typical roles are now breaking?
Vellani: Yes, exactly. Now we're seeing more Indian women playing characters that are strong and, really can hold their own. I think that's really important and I think you're seeing that in India as well. Indian actresses are able to really show their strength and show these dynamic and complex characters and create amazing performances. So, for me to be able to have that opportunity to do that as well, I think it not only shows how much the industry is changing, but that even a show like ‘Sweet Tooth’ can accomplish the same thing and really bring in so many amazing actors into the fold.
Your chemistry with Adeel Akhtar is a treat to watch. What kind of friendship or relationship do you share with him off the screen? And did you play any pranks on each other?
Vellani: I'm not sure if we could do any pranks, but working with such an amazing cast is truly such a fun experience. I think what was really great is not just in Season One, but even in Season Two, we were able to work off of each other so well. We were able to talk about the experiences we were having with our own characters and were able to try different things. I learned so much from him (Adeel Akhtar). He's such an incredible actor and being able to work with him is such a privilege. It was such a beautiful experience. He's such a great family person. So getting to hear about his kids and his wife and getting to hear about his family was a huge joy for me when we were chatting.
The show is filled with extraordinary and gritty themes such as propaganda, truth, identity, and betrayal. It tackles these themes in a very amazing way. Do you think 'Sweet Tooth' is much more than just a fantasy series? It looks like a more detailed look at our society.
Vellani: Well, what's so amazing is that Jeff Lemire, who wrote the graphic novel ‘Sweet Tooth’, created this story in 2009. So it's amazing to look back and see how much has changed, but also how much has stayed the same. I think that is something that people can really relate to or an audience can relate to. This story can transcend the time that it's set in because there are so many elements we can relate to as individuals. So I think that's what people are going to get while watching both season one and season two and even get inspired to read the comics because there are parts of us that we can see in this story.
Will we see all the storylines merge in Season 2?
Vellani: I will say that the audiences will love seeing all the storylines and seeing where they cross, they overlap, they separate. They'll see everything happening at the same time and they'll enjoy every minute of it. I promise you.
'Sweet Tooth' became an international phenomenon with Season 1 and became the number one show when it was released. Now, fans are expecting even a better Season 2, so should fans gear up for another enthralling season?
Vellani: Definitely, I would say that the adventure is there. Prepare for a bombastic season two. I'm excited to watch everyone be on that adventure and to have their own experiences with it and I would be looking forward to hearing about season two because I've been waiting for this moment.
'Sweet Tooth' Season premieres exclusively on Netflix on Thursday, April 27.
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