Actor Sushmita Sen on Wednesday said that she has started shooting for season two of her web series “Aarya” in Jaipur.

The Disney+ Hotstar series, which released in June last year, is an official remake of the popular Dutch crime-drama “Penoza”.
In a post on Instagram, the 45-year-old actor said that she is excited to begin shoot for the sophomore season.

“Hell hath no fury like a woman Reborn’ #Aarya #season2 #jaipur #khammaghani #privet I love you guys!!! #superexcited,” she wrote alongside a photo from the sets. 

In the show, Sen plays the role of Aarya Sareen, a happily married woman whose world turns upside down when her husband (Chandrachur Singh) is shot.

She gets to know that he may have been involved in an illegal drug racket which now threatens her family. Created by Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi, “Aarya” received critical acclaim when its first season debuted on the streamer.

The show marked Sen’s return to the screen, a decade after her last Hindi film “No Problem”. Madhvani serves as the director on the show along with Modi and Vinod Rawat.

Penned by Sandeep Shrivastava and Anu Singh Choudhary, the first season of “Aarya” also featured Namit Das, Manish Chaudhary, Jayant Kripalani, Vikas Kumar, Sikander Kher, Maya Sarao, Sugandha Garg and Ankur Bhatia.

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The Return of the Tigress: Sushmita Sen Begins Filming for ‘Aarya 2’ in Jaipur, Signaling a Fierce Rebirth

The announcement was subtle yet instantly electric. In March 2021, actor Sushmita Sen, the undisputed ‘boss lady’ of the Indian digital space, shared a compelling glimpse from the sets of her highly anticipated web series, Aarya 2. The backdrop was the majestic Pink City of Jaipur, and the message was a declaration of war: “Hell hath no fury like a woman ‘Reborn’.”

This single behind-the-scenes (BTS) photograph—a power pose captured amidst the grandeur of Rajasthan—did more than just confirm the commencement of filming; it set the stage for one of the most compelling and transformative character arcs on Indian television. The journey of Aarya Sareen, the devoted wife and mother forced to confront a world of crime, was officially entering its sophomore chapter, and expectations were not just high—they were seismic.

The Foundation of a Digital Phenomenon: Aarya Season 1

To truly appreciate the excitement surrounding the start of filming for Aarya 2, one must first acknowledge the groundbreaking success of the inaugural season. Premiering in June 2020 on Disney+ Hotstar, Aarya was an official remake of the acclaimed Dutch crime-drama Penoza. However, co-creators Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi deftly adapted the narrative to the opulent, yet treacherous, backdrop of Rajasthan’s drug trade, transforming a foreign concept into a distinctly Indian thriller.

More than just a crime drama, the first season marked a monumental professional return for Sushmita Sen after a decade-long hiatus from Hindi cinema. Her portrayal of Aarya Sareen—a woman whose seemingly perfect life unravels following the murder of her pharma-baron husband, Tej Sareen (Chandrachur Singh)—was hailed as a masterclass in controlled, nuanced performance.

The critical acclaim was immense and internationally recognized:

• International Recognition: Aarya Season 1 was nominated for the prestigious International Emmy Award in the Best Drama Series category. This nomination cemented its status as one of India’s most significant contributions to global OTT content.
• Individual Triumph: Sushmita Sen’s comeback was lauded by critics and audiences alike, earning her the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress—a victory that signaled her effortless transition to the digital medium.
• The Premise: The series masterfully combined the domestic drama of a fractured family with the high-stakes tension of the mafia world, forcing Aarya to step into the role of a Devi (Goddess) who must become a Don to protect her three children.

The Season 1 finale left Aarya on a plane to Australia, having turned in evidence against her family and secured witness protection, but the narrative clearly indicated that the fight was far from over.

Khamma Ghani, Jaipur: The Return to the Lion’s Den

The announcement of filming in Jaipur was more than a mere production update; it was a strong narrative clue. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and the vibrant heart of the Rathore family’s tainted empire, served as a crucial character in the first season, with iconic locations like the Chomu Palace Hotel near Jaipur being utilized for the grand ‘Zorawar Haveli’ setting.

Sushmita Sen’s social media post was a joyful yet menacing welcome back to the setting of Aarya’s greatest trials. Her use of the local greeting, “khammaghani” (a polite way of saying ‘hello’ or ‘greetings’ in Rajasthani), followed by the hashtag “#season2 #jaipur” grounded the story instantly. The city, with its dual identity of historic royalty and contemporary shadow-world crime, is intrinsically linked to the central conflict of the show: the beautiful facade of the Rathore family hiding a dark, deadly truth.

The decision to return to India and specifically to the city of the initial bloodshed is the foundational conflict of Aarya 2. The Pink City, often associated with tourism and heritage, becomes a perilous crucible for a mother trying to shield her children from her past.

The ‘Reborn’ Woman: Unpacking the Aarya 2 Character Arc

The key phrase in Sushmita Sen’s BTS post—“Hell hath no fury like a woman ‘Reborn'”—encapsulated the thematic core of the second season. Aarya 2 was never intended to be a simple continuation; it was a chronicle of Aarya’s evolution into the criminal she desperately tried not to become.

The plot of Season 2 forces Aarya to abandon her safe haven in Australia and return to her native Rajasthan to testify against her own father and brother regarding their involvement with the drug mafia. This return throws her directly into the crosshairs of multiple, lethal enemies:

• The Russians: They are still seeking their stolen consignment of 300 crores worth of heroin, which Aarya’s late husband was involved with.
• Udayveer Shekhawat: The father of the season one villain, who seeks vengeance for his son’s death.
• Her Own Family: The family members she testified against are now imprisoned, and Aarya struggles with the knowledge of their betrayal and the danger they still pose.
• The Children’s Trauma: On a deeply personal level, Aarya must grapple with her children’s emotional fallout—from her youngest son, Adi, witnessing his father’s murder, to her daughter, Aaru, struggling with depression and the breakdown of their family unit.

Critics noted that Season 2 was more profoundly human, focusing on Aarya’s growth from a “worried vulnerable mother to a fierce tigress.” Her character arc in the second season sees her take the reins completely, treading a fine line between fighting for her family’s safety and plunging fully into the world of drug lords and betrayal. The ‘Reborn’ tagline signifies the shedding of the naive, homemaker persona to embrace the ruthless protector, a transformation the character was always destined for.

The Ram Madhvani Method: 360-Degree Filming

The artistic foundation of Aarya‘s success lies not just in the scripting or performances, but in the innovative directorial style of Ram Madhvani. The director is renowned for his “360-degree filming system,” a method he and his team brought to the series to achieve a raw, immersive realism that is rarely seen in Indian thrillers.

This unconventional technique involves:

• Multiple Cameras: Using three to ten cameras simultaneously, the director captures the scene from all angles in a single, continuous shot, much like a documentary or a play.
• The “Fly on the Wall”: Sushmita Sen described the experience by saying, “The camera is a fly on the wall, you don’t feel the camera, it doesn’t interfere with the actors in real time.” This approach allows for true spontaneity and uninterrupted emotional flow.
• Embracing Mistakes: The philosophy encourages actors to continue the scene even if a real-life mishap occurs, such as dropping a glass. This adaptation is integral to the realism, promoting a “live theatre” atmosphere where actors are constantly in character and aware of their entire surroundings.
• Psychological Immersion: Sen also noted that the cast members were referred to by their character names throughout the schedule to maintain the “psychology of characters and the universe,” helping them stay fully immersed in the world of the Rathores.

This demanding yet ‘enriching system,’ as Sen called it, directly contributed to the raw intensity and emotional depth that defined both seasons. The BTS photo from Jaipur represents the start of another schedule under this highly-focused, immersive environment, promising a sequel with the same high quality of performance and storytelling.

The Ongoing Legacy of Aarya Sareen

The filming of Aarya 2 was a highly-publicized event in early 2021, and its successful completion in August of the same year paved the way for its premiere on December 10, 2021. The second season lived up to the hype, consolidating Sushmita Sen’s position as a powerhouse of the OTT space and securing her second consecutive Filmfare OTT Award nomination for Best Actress.

The enduring popularity of the character, whose fight is a metaphor for a woman reclaiming her power and protecting her family against impossible odds, led to the immediate commissioning and production of a third season. The journey that started in the historical city of Jaipur with a single, fierce declaration—”Hell hath no fury like a woman ‘Reborn'”—has evolved into a defining moment for Indian web content, proving that the female anti-hero, when portrayed with such conviction and complexity, is a narrative force to be reckoned with. Aarya is more than a crime thriller; it is the saga of a queen choosing her crown, even if it is forged in the fire of the underworld.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

1. When did Sushmita Sen start filming for Aarya 2 in Jaipur?

Sushmita Sen began filming for the second season of the web series Aarya in Jaipur in March 2021. The actor announced the commencement of the shoot on her Instagram account, sharing a BTS photo with the caption that famously read, “Hell hath no fury like a woman ‘Reborn’.” The filming for Season 2, which was temporarily delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually wrapped up in August 2021.

2. What is the central plot of Aarya Season 2 and what does ‘reborn’ signify for Aarya Sareen’s character?

Aarya Season 2 follows the titular character, Aarya Sareen, as she is forced to return to India from her witness protection in Australia to testify against her own family members who are implicated in the drug trade and her husband’s murder. The central plot revolves around her facing multiple, powerful threats, including the Russian mafia and a new antagonist seeking vengeance for the death of his son (Shekhawat). The term ‘reborn’ signifies Aarya’s complete transformation from a protective, albeit naive, homemaker into a ‘fierce tigress’ and an assertive, ruthless protector who must now take control of the crime business to ensure her children’s survival.

3. What is Ram Madhvani’s 360-degree filming technique, and how did it affect Sushmita Sen’s performance in Aarya?

Ram Madhvani’s “360-degree filming” is an unconventional technique where a scene is shot using multiple cameras (up to 10) simultaneously, capturing the action from all angles in a continuous, non-stop manner. This method is designed to create an immersive, theatre-like environment for the actors, promoting spontaneity and realism by not allowing for traditional cuts or multiple takes of the same emotional moment. Sushmita Sen noted that this process was “the most enriching system,” as the cameras acted as a “fly on the wall” and did not interrupt the actors’ real-time emotional flow, which greatly contributed to the raw, critically acclaimed quality of her performance.