
Kanika Dhillon on Crafting a Fierce Mother-Child Revenge Saga with Taapsee Pannu in Gandhari
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She started her career in film as a screenwriter and has since transitioned into producing. When you ask Kanika Dhillon if her perspective has shifted, she’ll tell you that her main goal remains the same: to tell stories. As she prepares to unveil her upcoming project, Gandhari (once again teaming up with her regular collaborator Taapsee Pannu), she chats with HT about how the film came to be and why she keeps choosing to work with Netflix.
The origin of Gandhari and working together with Taapsee
Gandhari is a revenge thriller directed by Devashish Makhija, featuring Taapsee in the main role. Kanika shares how the film came to life, saying, "It explores a unique kind of fear, or rather the fierce instincts of a mother. How far will a mother go to safeguard her child? That concept sparked the creation of Gandhari. I find action to be an incredibly thrilling genre, and I've never tackled anything like this before. So, all these elements just fell into place."
Kanika has collaborated with Taapsee on the two Haseen Dilruba films and Manmarziyaan, where she served as the screenwriter. Reflecting on bringing Taapsee into the project, she mentions, "She was in the perfect mindset to take on an action film, so it all aligned at just the right moment. Plus, as individuals and artists, we were both ready to dive into something as emotionally charged and compelling as the story we have."
How Gandhari stands out as an action movie
Time and again, people have claimed that audiences won't embrace action films or blockbusters led by women. However, Kanika sees it differently. "I believe it's not the audience's responsibility to accept or reject. They're actually quite open to engaging with a well-crafted story. So, it's really up to us to present it in our own way. The struggle lies more within the creator than with the audience's tastes. A compelling story will always find its audience," she explains.
Before Gandhari, there were other films featuring mothers fighting for their children, but Kanika isn't concerned about comparisons. She points out that the bond between a mother and child is as ancient as time itself and incredibly unique—there's no replacing your own mother. "This emotion is universal yet distinct. Each mother is a universe unto herself, and the connection she has with her child is so special that it can't be replicated in any other mother-child relationship," she adds.
Kanika also notes that the cultural backdrop of Gandhari sets it apart from similar films. "Gandhari is deeply rooted in its cultural context, which makes it different. I don't anticipate any comparisons or overlaps because it tells a unique story, standing strong with its powerful emotions," she explains.
Collaborating with Netflix
She discusses broadening perspectives, and naturally, the chat shifts to how Indian stories can go global through streaming. When mentioning a potential collaboration with Netflix again for Gandhari after Haseen Dilruba, she shares, "It has a worldwide audience, and as creators, we aim to find a platform that allows us to connect with the largest audience possible. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, our stories can travel and reach those viewers. It can really put us on the map. Previously, we didn’t have the same access to a global audience, but now we do, and that’s fantastic."
Gandhari, produced by Kanika's Katha Pictures and directed by Devashish Makhija, is scheduled to debut on Netflix later this year.
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