Aditya Dhar's first film has put him on the Bollywood map; reveals he could revisit a romcom, initially planned for Katrina Kaif and Fawad Khan, with a new cast shortly
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2019)

After the recent air strikes on Balakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, one had expected Aditya Dhar to announce a sequel to his debut directorial, Uri: The Surgical Strike, featuring Vicky Kaushal in the lead, however, the he is very sure he doesn’t want to repeat himself and would rather explore something new. “With Uri, I brought back films on the army and while I am open to doing another should I come across a story about courage in crisis, at this point, I would rather pioneer another trend,” he asserts.

Talking about the current political scenario, Aditya has full confidence in the Indian Army and the government to deal with acts of terror in the best way possible. “This menace has to be stopped once and for all. I believe in dialogue but after a point, we need to take strong action,” the filmmaker states.

The film industry recently took a collective stand, imposing a ban on Pakistani artists. Aditya points out that while as individuals, these artistes may not be against us, but when such attacks happen at regular intervals, one needs to completely isolate the country supporting terrorism. “There’s a lot of trade happening between the two countries and they also need to take this stand as this is the best way to tackle terrorism,” he avers.

When the Uri attacks took place on September 18, 2016, the director was working on the prep of a film titled Raat Baaki. It was to feature Katrina Kaif and Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan. The film was put on the backburner following the ban on the artists from across the border. “It was a romcom laced with action and while my office was trying to figure whom to cast in place of Fawad, I was fascinated by the surgical strikes that took place 11 days later on September 29 and started my research on October 1,” he reminisces, saying it was a kind of investigative journalism as the information he was trying to access was confidential.

Quiz him on whether he’d like to revisit Raat Baaki with a different cast and he says, “I haven’t figured my next film yet but it will be one of the scripts I’ve written over the last seven years. It could be Raat Baaki which is a fun film. Everybody was sad when things didn’t materialise. I don’t rule out the possibility of another film either. Uri was an exhausting film and I’m on a break right now but will soon return to one of my ideas.”

Uri is the most successful film helmed by a debutant, surpassing the previous record holder Sajid Nadiadwala’s Salman Khan-starrer Kick. While Aditya is understandably proud of the feat, he believes records are meant to be broken. “Not in our wildest dream did we think we would get so much appreciation and adulation from the audience. It was a special film as it was a tribute to the army, but the numbers we have earned are insane given it was my debut as a director and Vicky’s first commercial film as the solo lead. I hope, some other debutant breaks my record soon,” he smiles, admitting it’s overwhelming when politicians use lines from his film like “How’s The Josh?” and “Yeh Naya India Hai.”

After Uri, Vicky has become a mainstream Hindi actor and Aditya hopes to see his hero scale new heights. “He has reached this position after a lot of struggle and toil. He’s got talent so this thing was bound to happen, sooner or later. It’s just that I recognised his potential as a commercial actor before anyone else,” Aditya concludes with a twinkle. 

Deepali Singh (DNA; February 3, 2019)

If there’s one question that everyone’s been asking director Aditya Dhar post the success of Uri: The Surgical Strike, it’s this — How’s the josh? And naturally, the debutant filmmaker’s response is, ‘Really, really high!’ “And it’s going to remain high for the rest of my life,” he adds, when we speak to him over the phone.

For the 35-year-old Delhiite, it’s been a surreal experience — of seeing what was supposed to be his first movie get shelved, and then to receive so much love for what eventually became his debut film. “More than anything, I’m enjoying seeing the happiness on my parents’ faces, because they really backed me and believed in me,” says Aditya.

Between him and producer Ronnie Screwvala, they have a saying that goes, ‘all glory is fleeting’. So even as he basks in the success of the Vicky Kaushal-starrer, he’s also keeping his head down and focussing on what to do next. Excerpts from a chat with Aditya...

The war drama has been lauded by critics and masses alike. How does the validation feel? 
It feels incredible and truly overwhelming. The best validation that I got was firstly from the army officers and their families. They told us that they loved the movie and how we have represented the sacrifices made by the army men and what the families go through. Secondly, after the film, we’ve had 15 and 16-year-olds coming up to say that they want to join the army. That’s huge! We never thought this would happen but when it’s happening, it makes you feel ki kuch toh sahi kiya hai.

In a recent interview, Vicky Kaushal worded it beautifully when he said that the reason your first film didn’t get made, became your actual first film. Do you believe it’s destiny at play?
Absolutely. It’s completely surreal. In cinema as well as in life, you have to keep at it. My previous movie Raat Baaki with Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif didn’t happen because the terrorist attacks took place and within the next few days, the surgical strike happened. Now, as filmmakers and in life, you have to turn all the disappointments into opportunities. You have to make the best of what you have in hand. While we were trying to figure out who to recast (since Pakistani actors were banned from India post the attacks), I wanted to know more about the surgical strike because suddenly that sounded like a great story. But it meant talking to a lot of journalists, retired army officers, etc. as most of it was classified information. It was almost like investigative journalism and took me six months to piece together everything, bit by bit. Then one of my colleagues called me and said somebody else is also trying to get permission from the Indian Army to make a film on the surgical strike. I panicked because pehle hi meri ek film bante bante atak gayi thi and I thought yeh bhi atak jayegi. The only way a first-time filmmaker could have convinced or can convince a producer is if he has a fantastic script. I wrote mine within 12 days and pitched it to the producers. Ronnie Screwvala was boarding a flight to Vizag and he read it on the flight. The moment he landed, he called and said we’re doing this film. So, where it was taking me years to make one movie, when it was meant to happen, it was commissioned within a few hours. That’s destiny at play.

You wanted to join the army at one point. Is the success of the film more special because of that connection?
Yes, for sure. This film was an honest tribute to our army. It’s also a tribute to their families and what they go through. As a filmmaker, this was the closest I could come to it. I could create characters that would be remembered and loved for the rest of my life.

So, what’s next? Are you taking a break or have you started work on the next project?
I’m taking a breather but the fun part begins now because everyone is asking what’s next. That’s the challenge and I’m enjoying it. The pressure keeps me on my toes. Now, I need to think of something that is better than even Uri, and that is going to be really difficult to do. I have to push myself in the right direction to create something that’s memorable and which we can all be proud of.

Vicky Kaushal says his film Uri, based on the surgical strikes was made after attacks spelt trouble for the director's last
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 7, 2018)

Dampened cultural relationships between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2016 Uri attacks played havoc with Aditya Dhar's dream project, yet the writer-lyricist found in the events, an opportunity. Uri actor Vicky Kaushal tells mid-day that Dhar's inability to take forward a film that was to feature Pak actor Fawad Khan led to the creation of this offering instead.

"Uri was made due to the actual attacks," Kaushal says of the writer's directorial debut, adding, "Aditya was to direct Karan Johar's Raat Baaki. However, that did not happen due to the attacks, which was followed by the ban on Pakistani artistes. Aditya wanted to know what had transpired so that he could decipher the reason behind the ban. Eventually, the subject interested him so much that he penned a script on it."

His work was so fascinating, says Kaushal, that both, producer Ronnie Screwvala and he decided to come aboard. The actor plays the role of a commander-in-chief, who leads the operation after four heavily armed militants enter the town of Uri and attack an Indian army camp on September 18, 2016.

Dhar confirms the news to mid-day, stating, "I am a Kashmiri, one who has heard about terrorism since childhood. I was keen to get into the armed forces, so, for me, everything was falling in place with this film."

For Dhar, establishing himself as director has been a path riddled with obstacles. After being roped in to direct a film for Vishal Bhardwaj in 2010, a Johar film in 2012, and Raat Baaki in 2015 — none of which materialised — Dhar's film is finally seeing the light of day. Counting his blessings for finding support from producers, he also has the Army to thank for approving his film. "They liked it, and suggested changes too."

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; July 13, 2017)

Along with all the star kids who will hit the screens in 2018, there’s another name we are rather familiar with — Salman Khan’s brother-in-law Aayush Sharma (married to the actor’s sister Arpita). The young man will be launched by the actor’s banner.

The initial plans were to launch Aayush in a film titled Raat Baaki, which was to star Fawad Khan with Katrina Kaif. But post the Uri incident, and the ban on Pakistani artistes, Salman decided to replace Fawad with Aayush. But now that plan has changed.

The team is ready with another script for Aayush. “They have found the perfect script for Aayush’s grand launch. It has a mix of romance, action and emotions. Aayush has started prepping for his debut and if all goes as planned, the film will go on floors this year itself. Salman is currently looking for an able director. The movie will release in 2018.”

Fawad Khan is out of KJo’s production! The filmmaker is now on the lookout for a hero for Ms Kaif
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 20, 2016)

Karan Johar who has been targetted for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, yesterday issued a statement in which he said, “I will not engage with talent from the neighbouring country, given the circumstance.”

This means that the casting of his next production — Raat Baaki — which featured Katrina Kaif with Fawad, which was to go on the floors next month, will now need a new actor opposite the actress. Rather than shelving the film, it makes more sense to cast another actor. Katrina’s next film will now be delayed as all the top actors are tied up for the next one year. Ranveer Singh and Katrina would have been an interesting casting as they have never been cast together, also he has never worked in a Dharma film, but he is busy with Padmavati. Arjun Kapoor is her rakhi brother, so he is not an option. Varun is busy with Badrinath Ki Dulhania and will start shooting for Judwaa post that. Sidharth Malhotra and Kat’s pair carries the baggage of Baar Baar Dekho, while Ranbir Kapoor can’t be considered for obvious reasons. That leaves Tiger Shroff and Sooraj Pancholi who can’t pull off a role meant for Fawad.

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; October 9, 2016)

From being a screen scorcher, Fawad Khan has now become the whipping boy for anything to do with things across the border. His appearance (said to be an extended cameo) in Karan Johar’s upcoming film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has divided the industry, stirred nationwide debates and put the country’s security at stake. So is also is Mahira Khan’s presence in the SRKstarrer, Raees. KJo’s film also stars another import from across the border — Imran Abbas — who made his B-Town debut in the Bipasha Basu-starrer Creature A D. He has also done a cameo in the Diwali release.



Singer-actor Ali Zafar features in Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan. The film is slated to release next month. There is also the Irrfan-starrer with Pakistani import Saba Qamar on the floors.

Considering the present Indo-Pak scenario and the resultant ban imposed on Pakistani talent, several Bollywood projects either have been kept in limbo or put on the backburner. Or the filmmakers prefer to remain mum about their projects.

Katrina Kaif was to team up with Fawad in Raat Baaki, the directorial debut of Aditya Dhar. The film, produced by KJo, was slated to go on floor in November. A love story set in New Delhi, the film was supposed to be Kat’s next venture. There is no sign of it taking off now.

During her interactions for her last release, Baar Baar Dekho, Kat had said,  Let’s wait for the makers to announce it.” Singer-actor Ali Zafar’s brother Danyal was to make his B-Town debut in Habib Faisal’s next with Yash Raj. Danyal has already started prep for the youth-centric film. As YRF prefer to keep things under wrap, there is no word on the final casting.



Saket Chaudhary's film Hindi Medium starring Irrfan and Pakistani import, Saba Qamar is another project to face the heat. The romantic comedy is about a typical couple from Chandni Chowk, who aspire to move into New Delhi’s happening circles.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has rendered two tracks, Aye Mere Khuda and Ek Tera Saath in Arshad Siddiqui’s horror film, Ek Tera Saath — 1:13:7 which features telly actors Ssharad Malhotra and Hritu Dudani. So, what are the makers planning to do now? Replace the actors or put it on the backbuner.

Considering the controversy-riddled atmosphere, no filmmaker is in a quote mood and trigger another controversy. The Irrfan Saba starrer had a stint of shooting in Delhi recently. A unit source says, “The film has already wrapped up. The makers prefer to keep mum about their project for now.”

Ek Tera Saath — 1:13:7 director Arshad Siddique, “Yes, we have two songs of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in our film. These songs were recorded in 2014 and at that time there were no such issues. We support our country and if this problem had arisen before we definitely wouldn’t have recorded it.”

While wrapping up Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’s shoot, Imran had posted on Facebook, “Last day at the shoot in Mumbai. Truly thankful to Karan Johar for everything, Anushka Sharma and Lisa Haydon for being wonderful co-actors on set. And last but not the least, I must admire Ranbir Kapoor for making things so easier for me and being there like a great friend all through out.”

Wonder what is on Imran’s mind now?