Aditya Dhar's Rise: A Tale of Perseverance in Bollywood
Following the success of his latest film 'Dhurandhar', director Aditya Dhar has been receiving widespread acclaim and admiration from audiences and peers alike. His previous blockbuster, 'Uri: The Surgical Strike', also achieved significant box office success, but Dhar's journey to this point was marked by years of hardship and resilience.
Early Struggles and Mentorship Under Priyadarshan
In a recent interview with Mashable India, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan shared insights into Dhar's challenging early career. Dhar worked as Priyadarshan's assistant director for nearly three years in the early 2010s, during which he also wrote dialogues. Priyadarshan recalled, "When Aditya was working with me, he was also writing dialogues so for three years, I think, we worked together. I was always positive about him because he had a wonderful language. That was his biggest asset at that time."
Priyadarshan revealed that Dhar approached him during a particularly discouraging phase, having written scripts for projects without receiving proper credit. "He came to me when he was very disappointed with a few films which actually he penned, but he never got the credit," the veteran director said, highlighting the unfair challenges Dhar faced.
From Cricket Aspirations to Filmmaking Dreams
Interestingly, Dhar's ambitions were not always focused on cinema. Priyadarshan disclosed that Dhar had once pursued cricket seriously and was close to being selected for the Under-19 team. However, political influences prevented his selection, leading to disappointment. "He was a cricketer but he could not get into the Under-19 team because of some political influence so he was moved out. He was very disappointed sitting at home. Someone called him to see a film, and that was Gardish. He said he saw Gardish and said, 'This is something I want to do and I came to Mumbai'," Priyadarshan explained.
Breakthrough with 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'
Dhar's perseverance paid off with his breakthrough film, 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'. In a 2019 interview with SCREEN, he reflected on the long wait before his success. "2019 has been my most rewarding year till date. After years of struggling through many projects that got shelved for some reason, the wait turned out to be worthwhile and gratifying. Uri not only found its way into the hearts of millions across the country but also evoked a sense of patriotism in people across generations. That was the proudest moment for me," Dhar said.
Emotional Bond and Future Projects
After the success of 'Dhurandhar', Priyadarshan congratulated his former assistant with a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing a throwback picture from the sets of 'Tezz'. He wrote, "There is no greater happiness than watching my disciple rise with such remarkable success. Congratulations Aditya Dhar on Dhurandhar, and heartfelt best wishes for Dhurandhar 2."
Dhar responded emotionally, expressing deep gratitude. "My Dearest Priyan Sir... this means more to me than I can ever put into words!! You believed in me when I was a nobody, and when all I had was conviction and a few written pages. You treated me like an equal, and gave me something far more precious than just work – dignity, trust, and love... In an industry where I often learnt what not to do, you taught me exactly what to do, not just as a filmmaker, but as a human being," he wrote.
Dhar also revealed that he wrote dialogues for Priyadarshan's films 'Aakrosh' and 'Tezz', crediting his mentor's influence on his filmmaking journey. "I will forever be your student first. Thank you for everything, Sir. This success is as much yours as it is mine," he added.
Looking ahead, Dhar's upcoming film 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is scheduled for release on March 19, while Priyadarshan's next directorial venture 'Bhooth Bangla' is set to hit theatres on April 10.
