May 18, 2026 11:37am IST
Rahul Dholakia Returns To The US To Make An ‘Independent, Experimental, Youth-Driven Film’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Rahul Dholakia, the National award-winning director of “Parzania” (2007), who has since directed the hit “Raees” (2017) and the acclaimed Amazon Prime Video film, “Agni” (2024), which was the first-ever film on firefighters, is now set to release “Hum Hindustani” later this year on Netflix. The new film explores India’s first General Election, which was conducted in 1951-1952, and is now in post-production.
But Dholakia is truly excited about the new independent movie that will mark his return to the US, and he is set to travel there next week. America holds a special place in his life, Dholakia earned his Master’s degree in filmmaking from the New York Institute of Technology there, and he also made his directorial debut there with the 2002 Hindi-English bilingual musical rom-com, “Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar.”
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Dholakia reveals, “My new film jumps genres and grammar. It is an experimental yet entertaining film that is fast-paced and young, with an interesting storytelling format.”
Dholakia reveals that the cast will comprise young names, most of whom will be known faces. “Mukesh Chhabra is doing the casting. For the lead pair, we want two 20-somethings and I would not mind new faces,” he says.
And will it be a return to musicals as well, like “Kehtaa Hai…” and “Raees”? The latter had even won awards for Best Lyrics for Amitabh Bhattacharya and Best Male Playback Singer for Arijit Singh, both for the song “Zaalima”.
“Well, I am planning something different for my film,” says the filmmaker, adding, “The music will be unconventional but youthful and I am looking at new talents in that department.”
Meanwhile, Dholakia has shown the first draft of his script to 25 people in India and will also offer it to 25 more in the US for their feedback. “These 50 people span all ages and backgrounds, and they can make me aware of many things I I may miss out!”
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