Filmmaker and actor Tigmanshu Dhulia has recently shared his thoughts on the storytelling approach in the film Dhurandhar. Speaking at an event organized by the Editors Guild of India, he raised questions about the film’s plot and expressed concern over the increasing reliance on familiar story templates in the Hindi film industry. Dhulia directly linked this trend to what he refers to as “extreme capitalism.”
While he refrained from commenting on the film’s box-office success, Dhulia contemplated whether the central idea of Dhurandhar can truly be classified as a story. The action thriller, featuring Ranveer Singh, follows an undercover spy who travels to Pakistan and disrupts criminal operations there. Dhulia pointed out, “But if you ask about his story, you won’t be able to tell the story of Dhurandhar. There is a man who is an undercover spy, he goes to Pakistan and creates a ruckus there. This is not a story.”
Moving on, Dhulia highlighted what he perceives as a broader issue within modern filmmaking. He believes that storytellers face increasing pressure to conform to commercial expectations. “Stories are over in films. First of all, the storytellers are over and what they want to say is not allowed to be made,” he remarked, noting how fears about a film’s potential success limit the types of stories that can be told.
He further pointed out that the pressure of commercial success extends beyond cinema. According to Dhulia, this trend contributes to a noticeable uniformity in everyday life, influencing fashion and even the character of different cities. “People also start looking the same. You go to a boy’s fashion. Everybody looks the same. Same haircut. Every city looks the same. The character of every city is over,” he explained.
On a different note, Dhulia is currently promoting his new movie Ghamasaan, which will be released on ZEE5 on September 11. This film stars Pratik Gandhi and Arshad Warsi and is set against the rugged backdrop of Bundelkhand.
Ghamasaan tells the story of Maharaj, a notorious dacoit leader played by Warsi, and Aditya, an STF officer portrayed by Gandhi, who is on a mission to capture him. As Aditya delves deeper into Maharaj’s territory, he uncovers political corruption, complicating what started as a straightforward mission.
This film has been anticipated for about two years before its digital release was finally confirmed. Dhulia continues to shine light on the evolving landscape of Indian cinema through his insightful commentary and upcoming projects.
