Netflix India's original series Delhi Crime, directed by Richie Mehta, bagged the best drama series honour at the 48th International Emmy Awards.
Based on the Nirbhaya case, Delhi Crime follows the real-life police investigation into the finding of the men who perpetrated the heinous crime that shook the country.
Indian-Canadian director Richie Mehta, during her acceptance speech, dedicated the award to all the women who have not only gone through the violence inflicted upon them by men, 'but are also tasked to solve the problem.'
A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was kidnapped and gang raped in a moving bus on December 16, 2012 and later abandoned on the road. She died in a Singapore hospital from her injuries. The rape case made global headlines and shone a new light on the everyday violence perpetrated against women in India.
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Actor Shefali Shah played Vartika Chaturvedi, based on former Delhi Police DCP Chaya Sharma, who solved the case within 72 hours. The cast also includes Shah, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain, and Rajesh Tailang.
Shefali Shah said that she was "screaming like a maniac the moment when they announced the winner."
“Just the show by itself gave me a new lease of life. It changed a lot for me. I mean I was shouting so much that I think the host (TV, film and stage actor Richard Kind) and Richie Mehta sitting in London heard me. I’m so much proud to be a part of the show… Honestly, this win belongs to the entire team. I cannot take the responsibility on my own. I can’t wait to celebrate this with them all.”
Actor Rajesh Tailang said, “It was a big deal to be on this show. At first we all felt so enraged and it was the general feeling about Nirbhaya incident. That emotion showed on screen and that is what was appreciated as well. It was very special show for us, it was not like any other project.”
Delhi Crime premiered on 2019 and was lauded for its sensitive portrayal of the 2012 case.