I knew Taapsee wanted to explore action. As a friend, I wanted to push her further with an intense role that required her to delve into a woman experiencing profound loss. I like to take my actors out of their comfort zones by studying their body of work and mental state and creating characters that challenge them. When that chemistry works, it feels like no one else could have played the role. I feel Taapsee has given one of her best performances as Bani in Gandhari. — File Image

Prominent screenwriter, producer and author Kanika Dhillon, known for creating flawed, and unconventional female protagonists in Bollywood, talks about her creative process, and her action-thriller Gandhari, starring Taapsee Pannu and Ishwak Singh, which is set to stream on Netflix shortly


What changed when you turned producer with your banner, Kathha Pictures?

I am a writer first, but turning producer has given me room to tell my stories in the way that I want to.

You share a strong rapport with Taapsee Pannu…

Yes. The bond we have allows me to just say ‘Are you up to doing this?’ after giving her a one-line narration, and she says yes. That’s the level of trust between us. I don’t have to convince her to take on a role because she knows I will take it to a certain level and execute it in a certain way. Similarly, she doesn’t have to prove anything to me. She gives the role her best and does whatever it takes to bring it alive.

Gandhari is your sixth collaboration with Taapsee?

Yes. I knew Taapsee wanted to explore the action space, and I already had certain ideas. She is a risk-taker who takes on roles that demand immense commitment. As a friend, I wanted to push her further and see what would emerge from an intense role that required her to deep-dive into a woman experiencing profound loss. That is how I work with my actors—I study their body of work and mental state, then create characters that push them beyond their comfort zones. I feel Taapsee has given one of her best performances as Bani in Gandhari.

How did the idea for Gandhari come to you?

It actually began when I became a mother myself. There is an intense fear a new mother feels about the safety of her children. That fear is the bedrock of Gandhari. There is no limit to what a mother will do to protect her child.

Any plans of going into direction?

I definitely will direct. That will be my next step. I’m waiting for a story that compels me to make my directorial debut. I think it will happen soon.


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