At a time when a much-anticipated candy floss and bubblegum film with star kids had released on Netflix, it’s ‘Dhak Dhak’, a film on the epic bike expedition of four women from Delhi to Leh, which is making the loudest noise on the OTT platform. And now, producer Pranjal Khandhdiya informed that the work has already started on the sequel of this rare women bike film. The dynamic biker women gang, featuring Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi, might be embarking on an unforgettable trip to Barcelona in the upcoming installment.
“A story like ‘Dhak Dhak’ is a rarity. The film has so many challenges and hence nobody has been able to make such a film till now. But, now that we have done it successfully, it only makes sense to take the next challenge. Every character of ‘Dhak Dhak’ deserves a spin-off. Also, we kept the hook of the sky wanting to go to Barcelona open in the first part. We have already started working on ideating for the sequel. There are a couple of thoughts that Tarun (director Tarun Dudeja) and I have discussed. We surely are taking the road trip universe beyond,” said Khandhdiya, one of the most sought-after young producers in Bollywood right now.
‘Dhak Dhak’ is truly one-of-a-kind, just as the producer said. It unfolds the journey of four women from diverse backgrounds riding from Delhi to Khardung La on bikes. The story is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, joy, and uncertainty, fueled by their determination to prove skeptics wrong.
Khandhdiya hinted that the sequel could maintain the original four female characters or possibly introduce male characters into the mix. “The same four characters might remain or we might introduce new characters or even bring in some male characters. But then, it’s a matter of how we take the story forward. However, the audience will definitely get to be part of this journey. ‘Dhak Dhak’ will not stop at Khardung La. The journey continues,” he said.
Khandhdiya’s journey as a film producer has been a tale of learning and excitement. Formerly a top studio executive at Sony Pictures, where he played a key role in films like ‘Piku’ and ‘Soorma’, he took a leap into independence. In just four years, he’s produced five quality films, including award-winning ‘Kacchey Limbu’ with Radhika Madan, Filmfare nominated ‘Rashmi Rocket’ and ‘Blurr’ with Taapsee Pannu, ‘Dhak Dhak’, and ‘Sweet Dreams’, a millennial rom-com with Mithila Palkar and Amol Parashar. With two more films in the pipeline and a remake of an Iranian film on the horizon, Khandhdiya is shaping a dynamic career in the world of cinema.
Khandhdiya isn’t fond of the term ‘women-centric’ films, and he’s hesitant to label ‘Dhak Dhak’ as one. For him, a film’s essence lies in a compelling story that entertains. He strongly believes in the potency of good writing to drive a film’s success. “The audiences today are matured and they can sense the story way ahead. Hence, any story that excites the audience with a new concept becomes attractive. With this belief, we choose our subjects wisely. We aren’t averse to subjects that have male characters. In fact, our selection of stories is gender neutral. It so happens that in today’s world the ladies are far more experimental and have multifold layers and hence those characters become appealing. All four characters of ‘Dhak Dhak’ are real,” he said.
Putting together a film with an ensemble cast like in ‘Dhak Dhak’ is quite a challenge, as the producer pointed out. Managing multiple talented actors is no easy task. “This is one of the biggest reasons why Bollywood doesn’t see many ensembles. In our case, it wasn’t just a regular ensemble, but it was a complex casting of four women of different age brackets, social strata and upbringing. We were clear about not compromising on the age as the character of Mahi (Ratna Pathak Shah) is 65-years-old. We wanted to cast a genuine senior actor. We knew no actor would be ready to take the risk. But there was Ratna ji who showed confidence and we just got lucky to have her. Other three casting was so bang on that when we approached them, as they were our first choice and they readily said yes,” said Khandhdiya.
He also shared that the greater challenge lies in releasing a film rather than the filmmaking process itself. “The market forces are never favourable unless the film is actually seen and loved by the audience. The same happened with ‘Dhak Dhak’, which struggled to find a full-fledged commercial release. But it found its love on the digital platform. ‘Dhak Dhak’ is a most viewed film on Netflix in India,” said the young producer.
Khandhdiya is also thrilled to team up with actress Taapsee Pannu in production. He highlights their collaborative efforts, using their skills, knowledge, and networks to create meaningful content. “Friends-turned-business partners have the comfort of calling out the other person and figuring the best,” he said.
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