With its signature mix of action, wit, and stylish storytelling, Guy Ritchie’s MobLand has quickly become one of the most anticipated crime dramas series of the year. This one delves into the world of a powerful crime dynasty, with a star-studded cast that includes Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Tom Hardy. At the heart of the show are actors Mandeep Dhillon and Anson Boon, who take on pivotal roles in this high-stakes underworld drama. In an exclusive interview ETimes, they share their experiences working under Ritchie’s dynamic direction, their inspirations for their characters, and what it was like collaborating with some of the biggest names in the industry.
We asked Dhillon and Boon about the fabled dynamic nature of a Guy Ritchie film set and going by their reply, they confirmed the rumours were true. “You’re constantly on your toes,” Dhillon explained. “You learn your lines but also have to be ready to change them at the last minute. But it was amazing. I mean, you’ve been a fan of Guy Ritchie forever, right?” she said, turning to Boon.
When asked how the director’s approach shaped their performances, Boon said, “100%, the way he works affected the way that we play our characters because his sets have such an energy to them. It’s very fast-paced. It’s a very slick, well-oiled machine.”
“He’s got a very unique style, that signature Guy Ritchie rhythm and cadence that he brings to the dialogue and action. You soak that up and inevitably take it on. And I think that’s why his films are so unique and why people love them so much—because it does have that real quick flair to it.”
Fresh out of the success of ‘The Gentlemen’, Ritchie’s ‘MobLand’ centres around a crime dynasty. While we have seen Brosnan and Mirren channeltheir inner mobsters before in their project ‘The Long Good Friday’, Hardy stepped into the world of illicit liquor trade in ‘Peaky Blinder’. When we asked the co-stars who their influences were while bringing their characters to life, the actor said, “Honestly, I think my character really sees himself in the shoes of his grandfather one day. He sees himself as the top dog of the family business, which is a position currently occupied by Pierce Brosnan’s character, Conrad. So I was channelling that ruthless energy. I love that.”
Dhillon found inspiration closer to home, saying, “In my family, the women are so strong and powerful and so sure of themselves. I was channelling them—I’ve got so many aunties who are bosses, proper bosses. So it wasn’t too hard.”
Collaborating with acting icons such as Brosnan, Mirren, and Hardy is a career-defining experience for many young stars and these two, couldn’t agree more. Opening up about ther experience shooting with the trio, Anson said, “I think we would both agree that they are so playful and energetic. They came with full enthusiasm for every single scene. We’re lucky enough to have a lot of scenes with them. What I definitely learned from them is just keeping that enthusiasm for what you do, be really playful, and approach every scene like it’s your first one that you’re really hungry to do. Their energy is infectious, and I’ve definitely caught the bug.”
Mandeep agreed, and shared her observation about the three and their passion for acting. “Even when the camera’s not on them, they’re still giving that same level of performance. They are so in love with it, which makes you be in love with it even more. It’s been amazing,” she said.
While Pierce, Helen and Tom may have brought their best poker face to the sets, Boon teased at some BTS mischief. “They’re very funny. They would come out with just the best one-liners. I mean, Helen’s ad-libs are second to none. You could always guarantee that on the very last take of a scene, when we knew it was the last take, she was going to throw something in that you weren’t expecting—in the best way. And we’d just be in stitches.”
While MobLand shares thematic similarities with other crime dramas, it brings a fresh twist by focusing on the role of the fixer. “What’s cool about MobLand is that it’s shown through the perspective of the fixer, the guy that’s solving the problems,” Anson explained and added, “That’s Tom Hardy’s character, Harry D’Souza. The audience sees all the chaos that unfolds through his lens and all the pieces he has to pick up because of what the likes of my character get up to.”
Additionally, the show offers a rare glimpse into the highest ranks of the criminal underworld. “Seeing a crime drama from the perspective of the very top of the hierarchy—the people driving Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, eating in the fanciest restaurants in London—that’s not the perspective you always see. I think that’s cool.”
As for the possibility of a second season, the stars remain hopeful saying, “Fingers crossed!”