The success of Sapne vs Everyone Season 2 has surpassed even the expectations of its creators. For writer-director-actor Ambrish Verma, the primary concern was never about breaking records but about satisfying viewers who had invested emotionally in the first season. “The biggest fear with any sequel is that the audiences might feel this isn’t what they signed up for,” says Verma.
“Our only goal was to do justice to the story. Everything beyond that is a bonus. The response has been ten times what I imagined.” According to TVF founder Arunabh Kumar, a second season was never a certainty. After the success of the first instalment, Verma had already signed feature films and was keen to move towards cinema, his long-held ambition.
“At one point, Ambrish thought he might only act in Season 2,” Kumar recalls. “Eventually, he chose to write, direct and act in it again because he felt that was the best way to tell the story. It took him three to four months to make that decision because the film opportunity was significant.”
THE DIFFICULT DECISION BEHIND SEASON 2
“When you’re making a branded series, the expectation is usually that you complete the story. There
was scope for a second season, but by then I had already signed a film,” Verma says in his defence. The hesitation also came from experience.
Verma had previously worked on a show whose second season was developed without him.“It didn’t land the way the first one did. No one was at fault but when a story is continued by someone else, the sensibilities naturally differ.” A feature film offered greater visibility and potentially life-changing financial rewards. Yet the pull of the story proved stronger. “Once I decided, it was all in. There was no keeping a foot in two boats.” The creators also felt that if Sapne vs Everyone were to return, it deserved a larger platform. With support from Amazon Prime Video and TVF’s business team, the second season eventually found its home.
CHANGING TVF’S CREATIVE DNA
For Kumar, Sapne vs Everyone represents more than just a successful series. He believes it altered the
creative direction of TVF itself. “One of the best things Ambrish and Sapne did was change the palette and
DNA of our storytelling,” he says. “Production houses often become associated with a particular style. I
had seen glimpses of Ambrish’s voice in NCR Days, but Sapne took that much further.” Kumar compares the
response to only one previous TVF phenomenon: Panchayat Season 2.
“What has happened with Sapne vs Everyone Season 2 is rare. The second season has exceeded the first by a considerable margin.”
FROM SALESMAN TO STORYTELLER
Verma’s connection to the series is deeply personal. “I was a sales professional who wanted to become an actor,” he says. “The story was about a salesman chasing his dream while dealing with financial pressure, family responsibilities and uncertainty. At its core, it was about someone trying to figure out how to live his dream.” Before Sapne, Verma created Dude and later NCR Days, which helped establish his credibility within TVF. “NCR Days proved I could take responsibility and deliver. Arunabh sir trusted that if I committed to something, I would back it up with hard work.” The seed of Sapne existed long before the show was made. Originally titled The Art of Dreaming, it underwent significant changes.
One major addition was Jimmy, the morally compromised salesman played by Verma himself. “That character didn’t exist initially,” he reveals. “A brand collaborationv required us to explore the darker side of sales. Jimmy emerged from that need.”
A CREATOR’S LEAP OF FAITH
Verma’s willingness to choose creative fulfilment over security stems from a much earlier gamble. “The most impractical decision I ever made was leaving my job,” he says. “I was nearly 30 and earning well. No one had promised me work when I quit.” Following his departure from corporate life, he survived through acting assignments, sketches and music videos. “At one point, I was earning Rs.50,000 a month doing five or six sketches. It wasn’t much but I took whatever work I could get.”
The real challenge, however, wasn’t financial. “I realised the biggest battle was comparison. Many of my friends were abroad, earning incredible salaries and building successful careers. I had to ask myself if I was okay being at the bottom of that hierarchy. Once you’re at peace with your choices, everything else becomes manageable.”
TRUST, LOGIC AND CREATIVE FREEDOM
Both credit their long association for the show’s success. “Arunabh sir has strong opinions, but logic always prevails with him,” says Verma. “If you can explain your perspective, ego never enters the equation. That’s rare.” Kumar offers a recent example. The first episode of Season 2 was originally 90 minutes long. “My first reaction was, ‘Who will watch a 90-minute opening episode?’” he laughs. “But Ambrish believed splitting it would weaken the experience. He tested the idea before rejecting it. Eventually, I told him to trust the material.” That support, Kumar says, is often invisible to audiences. “What people don’t see are the sacrifices and difficult choices underneath the final product.”
IMDB SUCCESS AND THE YOUTUBE ADVANTAGE
Sapne vs Everyone has become one of TVF’s most celebrated shows. It featured in IMDb’s Top 250 rankings.
“For us, being on that list is like earning a Michelin star,” Kumar says. “What makes Sapne special is that every episode is rated above 9.3 on IMDb.” Yet he insists ratings are secondary to viewership. “At TVF, we say views are more important than reviews. First, people need to watch the show.” Kumar also credits YouTube as the toughest training ground for creators. “When content is free, audiences are even more protective of their time. You have to earn every minute of viewership.”
WHAT COMES NEXT?
TVF’s ambitions continue to grow. The company is exploring film production through Vvan, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, while also developing shows. Verma, meanwhile, has returned to the feature film he postponed for Sapne vs Everyone Season 2. “As far as Sapne is concerned, we’re still figuring out the right format,” says Verma. “Should the next chapter be another season or a film? We’re trying to decide what serves the story best.”
Also Read: Exclusive: Makers Exploring Feature Film With Ambrish Verma Post Sapne Vs Everyone 2’s Success
