“We reimagined JD, giving him a backstory, motives, and shades”: Meiyang Chang on turning JD from a simple villain into a layered character in Amazon MX Player’s Karate Girls

Mumbai, December 26, 2024: Amazon MX Player, Amazon's free video streaming platform, recently released its riveting coming-of-age drama, Karate Girls. The series masterfully blends the intensity of martial arts with the complexities of human relationships to explore themes of adulthood, personal growth, discipline and determination. Set against the backdrop of Nashik, the story follows Sensei Ajay Kadam and two spirited girls, Komal and Abha, who must overcome their personal conflicts and come together as a team for a shared purpose. Karate Girls features a talented ensemble cast, boasting Ashlesha Thakur, Celesti Bairagey, Manav Gohil, and Meiyang Chang in pivotal roles.

Shedding light on the complexities of his character, JD, and sharing insights about his back story, Meiyang Chang highlighted, “JD is the bridge between Sensei Ajay and the girls, who start as rivals but eventually unite. His story is rooted in betrayal and revenge – a man once devoted to his sensei, now blinded by resentment and a thirst for validation. Beneath his unethical actions and influence in Nashik’s karate world lies a student still yearning for his sensei’s approval. That inner conflict makes him fascinating. I love exploring why characters are the way they are. JD’s actions stem from a deep sense of hurt and injustice, which makes his journey relatable even if it’s flawed. He isn’t just evil for the sake of it. There’s a reason behind everything he does, and uncovering that was the most exciting part of playing him.”

Reflecting on working with director Victor Mukherjee, Chang added, “Victor and I have worked together on a couple of projects, including web series, songs, and even a movie. I’ve always admired his zest for storytelling. When he first mentioned Karate Girls, I was intrigued but told him the character of JD needed more depth. Initially, JD was a very black-and-white villain, but Victor promised we’d develop the character further, and he kept that promise. Together, with Victor, the writers, and Dice Media, we reimagined JD, giving him a backstory, motives, and shades that made him far more compelling.”