The concept of love in modern times has advanced well beyond conventional notions of romance. The impact of technology, increasing autonomy, and changing social norms are all influencing relationships in our modern, digitally linked society. Four Years Later, an Australian-Indian love drama, provides a fresh take on long-distance relationships, identity, and emotional development by capturing these modern dynamics.

Starring Shahana Goswami, Akshay Ajit Singh, Kate Box, and Luke Arnold, the eight-episode series, co-written and produced by Mithila Gupta, will debut on Lionsgate Play in India on July 11. Shahana and Akshay spoke about portraying long-distance relationships, developing their on-screen chemistry, and what attracted them to the script in an interview with the Hindustan Times.

After reading the screenplay for Four Years Later, Akshay Ajit Singh remembers crying

When he learned that he would be playing Yash in Four Years Later, Akshay remembered "dancing." "After that, I received the script a few hours later," he continued. It took me two and a half hours to read the entire screenplay at once. I recall that my mother was downstairs when I finished reading the screenplay, and I looked at her with tears in my eyes. The beauty of this segment made me wonder how I could ever adequately portray it since the character was so subtle, layered, and unique, and there were so many emotions I had never before on screen. I was completely perplexed by this one. I had to create him from scratch because I knew he was going to be a completely unique character. Naturally, I begged Yash to come to me, and then in a lovely song, Kesariya, he did. In addition, it was the best team I've ever collaborated with. Saying yes to Yash was a no-brainer.

Shahana Goswami discussed her connection with her character

Shahana, who is renowned for her picky choices, said that her role as Sridevi really spoke to her and stated, "When I did the auditions, the scenes I felt were more relatable and real to the language, characters, and conversation. When I was ultimately given the role, I thought Sridevi's personality was much more similar to mine, and I rarely get to express that aspect of myself. Tu Hai Mera Sunday is the only movie, in my opinion, that has managed to portray who I really am. The offer to play a romantic lead in the romantic series, so much later in my career and life, for the first time in a sense, was also fascinating. Life can be new at times, which is fascinating. After reading the text, I discovered that it is far more than just a love story, as it effortlessly covers a wide range of topics, including friendship, profession, labor, relationships, and conversation.

Akshay Ajit Singh and Shahana Goswami discuss their chemistry

Both actors said they were unsure at first when thinking about their relationship. "This is really amusing," Akshay remarked. We had our first audition over a virtual meeting because Shahana was in Paris, and I requested her to show me the Eiffel Tower (laughs). Additionally, Mithila and the director were seeing our auditions via Zoom, and they were saying things like, "Wow, this is electric," and, "I had an individual thought that really? electric? umm okay!" Then, in Delhi, we took a chemistry test on the spot where we met and read the three or four scenes together, and everyone else said We love the chemistry, while Shahana and I were a bit uneasy. The sensation that yes, that was not there. However, I believe that is what worked. Additionally, all of that helped us develop our chemistry, along with Shahana bringing lunch for me when we were filming in Mumbai, our workshops, and our readings.

"It was only when the trailers and show came out that we realized, 'Oh, we look good together,'" Shahana said. We now understood the chemistry that others were referring to.

A long-distance relationship between Shahana Goswami and Akshay Ajit Singh

When discussing long-distance relationships, Akshay mused about how people can occasionally experience the greatest loneliness even when they are in a relationship. He stressed the need for ongoing self-improvement and for avoiding the temptation to transfer one's insecurities onto one's spouse. Instead of relying on a partner to control them, he said that it's vital to accept ownership of one's own triggers and emotional reactions.

"I agree that long-distance relationships are seen as a problem, and it always has been, but in today's hyper-connected world, it's a reality for a lot of people," Shahana said, reflecting on her own experience in a long-distance relationship. It is important to realize that modern relationships are about giving individuals the freedom to choose for themselves. Sometimes, couples decide to live apart in order to pursue their own careers and work, concentrating a bit more on their own path. Their wants and interests are not the same. This kind of comprehension has been provided, as opposed to earlier periods, when it was believed that a unit moves in unison. In other words, I relocated to Bombay at the age of 18, and I've spent my entire life away from my loved ones. When I was 13, I was in a long-distance relationship, and I had done everything from sending STD calls to writing letters to making video and voice calls, and so on.

"I have a lot of friends who went abroad to study and are now working there," Akshay said in closing, sharing how the narrative struck a chord with the diaspora. They said they felt represented for the first time when the program aired. As a result, this was produced for the Australian market before being distributed widely. Many Indian immigrants expressed that they felt their challenges were finally being represented. The emotional element of being away from home has resonated with many individuals, such as those who relocate to a different country for a living, and these are the topics we have covered. Through the lens of India, it's a tale that's told everywhere. However, I am a little bit of an extrovert, whilst Yash went through missing home, ghar ka khana, missing friends, and discovering a new identity. However, I did relate to these features.

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