Starring renowned actresses such as Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Dia Mirza, and Sanjana Sanghi, the film Dhak Dhak made its way to theaters on October 13 last year. Despite a star-laden cast, the film had a rather muted debut. Its trailer, which released just four days before the movie hit the big screen, barely got any promotional push. Taapsee Pannu, an acclaimed actress and one of the film’s co-producers, was noticeably absent in promoting the film, having even gone as far as to delete all related posts from her social media platforms.
Recently, in an interview with the Indian Express during their Expresso segment, Taapsee Pannu revealed the turbulent journey and associated frustrations with the film’s release and promotion. Sharing her side of the story, Pannu disclosed that her disappointment stemmed from the decision of the co-producers to abandon the film after they had recouped their investment. “It was very heartbreaking,” she began. “I did not become a producer to have an alternate career. I was doing pretty well as an actor. I could have sat quietly or I could have produced films that I act in, which would have been safer. I wanted to produce films I’m not actively part of. Dhak Dhak was a step towards that.”
Pannu outlined the struggles of producing a film that is not endowed with a big budget. “If it’s not a big-budget film, studios recover the money before the film hits theatres. Now that they have made their money, they just make a token release. They don’t even want to spend on Prints and Advertising (P&A). Exhibitors feel that since it’s no mass masala movie, why spend for electricity and popcorn. So they give us odd shows, obscure theatres, etc. Then it’s abruptly removed in the middle of the week. At that time, I was so frustrated.
. We started showing the film 4-5 days after the film’s trailer came out. People started coming to us saying they would help promote it. But I still didn’t have people standing next to me as producers and co-producers who said ‘we did as much as we could and leave the rest to the audience.’ They instead said, ‘Why bother? It’s already made its money and now it will find its audience.'”
Taapsee’s narrative paints a grim picture of the commercial priorities that often plague the creative industry. The distributors and exhibitors are primarily motivated by profitability rather than artistic value or audience engagement. “The four lead women, they stood by the film,” Taapsee recalled emotionally. Each of the leading ladies took a personal interest in ensuring the film got as much visibility as possible. Dia Mirza, exemplifying extraordinary solidarity, opened up her home to journalists for interviews and press interactions with the cast. “I have never seen many actors taking ownership of a film like that. I was so proud to be a part of that film.”
These revelations bring to light the unspoken challenges that independent filmmakers face in an industry dominated by big-budget productions and commercial interests. The fate of Dhak Dhak serves as a stark reminder of the ephemeral nature of support in the film industry, where financial gain often trumps artistic integrity. The intentions of producers like Taapsee Pannu, who aspire to craft meaningful cinema beyond their acting careers, are often hamstrung by such systemic issues. However, the commitment shown by the film’s leading women underscores the resilience and passion that continues to drive quality filmmaking.
Beyond the financials and the lack of promotional push, the tale of Dhak Dhak is one of grit and unyielding determination. The cast’s ownership might not have made a massive commercial dent, but it certainly underscores a shift in how films are perceived and promoted by their very creators and actors. It’s a call to both the industry and audiences to look beyond the monetary gambit and appreciate the soul of the cinematic narratives that aim to break the mould.
As the narrative around Dhak Dhak unfolds, it leaves us pondering the bigger picture. What defines the success of a film? Is it the quick recoup of investments and a profitable bottom line? Or is it the lasting impact and the fervent passion of those who believe in the story being told? For Taapsee Pannu and her colleagues, it seems the journey of Dhak Dhak, regardless of its commercial shortcomings, is a testament to their unwavering dedication to impactful storytelling.
