Big Comment/ 'We have stopped believing in cinema', says Dhak Dhak producer reacting to film's box office numbers

Dhak Dhak, the road trip movie featuring Fatima Sana Shaikh and Ratna Pathak Shah in the leads, hit the theatres on National Cinema Day on October 13. Made on an estimated budget of ₹30-35 crore, the Tarun Dudeja directorial reportedly collected ₹65 lakhs on Day 5, taking its gross domestic collections to 4.8 crore. The film’s producer has now opened up about his film’s performance at box office.

3 things you need to know

• Dhak Dhak is co-produced by Taapsee Pannu, Aayush Maheshwari, and Pranjal Khandhdiya.
• The film revolves around 4 women who take on road trip to the highest motorable point in India, Khar Dung La.
• Taapsee Pannu and Khandhdiya had earlier collaborated on films like Rashmi Rocket and Blurr.

(Dhak Dhak poster | Image: Instagram)

We have stopped believing in cinema, says Khandhdiya

In an exclusive interview with DNA India, The Dhak Dhak producer spoke about how box-office performance shouldn’t be the only parameter to evaluate a film’s worth. Khandhdiya gave an example of two recent box-office successes - Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahanii and Gadar 2, which according to him might differ in their magnitude of success, but have their own audience which made them work. He added, “Rocky Aur Rani does one-third the number of Gadar 2 at the box office, but that doesn’t mean that is wrong. It is a feel-good film that has its audience whereas Gadar 2 is for the masses.”

While talking about the industry trends, Khandhdiya expressed his views on how the filmmakers seem to be excessively dependent on formula these days. He added how, earlier, “We were always open to experimentation. An Amitabh Bachchan action film would come every six months. But in between, we would get lots of slice of life films.” The producer stated further, “We have stopped believing in cinema. When one thing starts to work, everyone is now only following that, which was not the case earlier.”

(The lead cast of Dhak Dhak in a still from the film | Image: Instagram)

Dhak Dhak is Khandhdiya's 4th co-production

Khandhdiya turned a producer with the 2021 film Rashmi Rocket, after working as an Executive producer on films like Soorma, Piku and Azhar. Taapsee Pannu and Khandhdiya had earlier collaborated on productions like Rashmi Rocket and Blurr. Dhak Dhak tells the story of four women who decide to take a road trip on their bikes to the highest motorable pass in the country Khardung La. Co-produced by Taapsee Pannu, Aayush Maheshwari, and Pranjal Khandhdiya, Dhak Dhak released on Friday, October 13.