In a heartfelt revelation, celebrated filmmaker Priyadarshan has opened up about the early struggles of his protege, Aditya Dhar, the director behind the historic blockbuster 'Dhurandhar'. While expressing immense pride in Dhar's monumental success, Priyadarshan disclosed a painful chapter from the filmmaker's past, alleging that other directors appropriated Dhar's research and hard work without giving him proper recognition.
A Guru's Pride and a Painful Past
Priyadarshan, currently busy with his projects 'Bhooth Bangla' and 'Haiwaan', made time to watch Aditya Dhar's period spy thriller starring Ranveer Singh. He admitted to loving the film, a reaction he expected given his long association with Dhar. "He is one of my best disciples and assistants I've ever had. Aditya is one of my loyal boys; he takes my blessings for everything," Priyadarshan told Mid-Day.
However, his praise was tinged with indignation for the past injustice faced by Dhar. The veteran director stated bluntly, "Dhar never got his due credit because the directors took his research, hard work, and talent, but kept him aside." He expressed his joy at Dhar finally achieving the massive success he deserved, adding, "I am very proud of him; he has made it so big."
The Genesis of a Filmmaker: From Cricket to 'Gardish'
The bond between the guru and shishya dates back to 2010 when Priyadarshan was working on the script for 'Aakrosh'. Aditya Dhar was introduced to him by screenwriter Robin Bhatt and soon became his assistant director, also contributing to the scripting process. Dhar further assisted and wrote dialogues for Priyadarshan's 2012 film 'Tezz'.
It was during the 'Tezz' shoot in Scotland that Dhar shared his unique origin story. Priyadarshan recalled, "Aditya told me that he was a budding cricketer, in the under-19 team, but he didn't get in because the son of a top Indian cricketer beat him to it." Dejected, Dhar's friends took him to watch Priyadarshan's 1993 film 'Gardish', starring Jackie Shroff and Dimple Kapadia. "That day he decided to quit cricket and become a filmmaker," revealed Priyadarshan, highlighting the profound impact of the film.
Proven Talent Before the Breakthrough
Long before 'Dhurandhar' rewrote box office history, Aditya Dhar had already showcased his multifaceted talent. He wrote the National Award-winning short film 'Boond' in 2009. Furthermore, he displayed a keen ear for music, having penned lyrics for several films including Kabir Khan's 'Kabul Express' (2006), Anil Devgan's 'Haal-E-Dil' (2008), and Girish Dhamija's 'Phhir' (2011).
Despite this early promise, his major breakthrough as a director was yet to come. Priyadarshan's recent Instagram post, featuring a throwback picture from the sets of 'Tezz', encapsulates their relationship. He wrote, "There is no greater happiness than watching my disciple rise with such remarkable success." He congratulated Dhar on 'Dhurandhar' and extended best wishes for the upcoming sequel.
The monumental success of 'Dhurandhar' stands as a testament to Dhar's perseverance. Co-produced by Aditya and Lokesh Dhar's B62 Studios, the film has earned over Rs 850 crore at the domestic box office, making it the highest-grossing Hindi film ever in India. Its global collection stands at a staggering Rs 1,255 crore. The team is now gearing up for the sequel, 'Dhurandhar 2', slated for release on March 19 in multiple languages.
Priyadarshan's revelations shed light on the often-unseen struggles behind cinematic success, making Aditya Dhar's journey from an unrecognised talent to a record-breaking director all the more inspiring.
