Kanika Dhillon is currently making headlines for her devious writing in the latest Netflix movie Do Patti. Featuring Kajol, Kriti Sanon and Shaheer Sheikh in lead roles, writer Kanika recently talked to Zoom about her journey so far.
Excerpts from the interview
How do you view your journey so far?
I feel very grateful that I have been able to tell stories close to my heart! Transitioning from writer to producer with Kathha Pictures has been very fulfilling and also challenging. I really look forward to being able to write support and tell engaging, important and entertaining stories with Kathha Pictures.
You seem to be the first female writer in Hindi cinema to have an independent voice.
Thank you for this honour. However, I do feel that there are some prominent female screenwriters in Hindi cinema who have paved the way for me to have my voice in Hindi cinema heard. As women, if we don’t have stories, it’s like we were never here. We never existed. As women, our stories matter. My endeavour as a writer-producer with Kathha Pictures is to have that voice that is inclusive, connects and entertains.
ALSO READ: Do Patti Writer Kanika Dhillon On Glorifying Cheating In Haseen Dillruba: Nobody Minded That Devar Also Did…
Do Patti seem inspired by Sharmeelee and Aaina?
I loved Aaina as a movie, I love to explore sibling rivalry. Sisters' bond is mostly depicted as a very sacrosanct, pure and purely unidimensional relationship. But in reality, it’s chaotic, strenuous, sometimes toxic. There is a lot of love and deep bonds but also deep-dark secrets that ruin us. I have always wanted to explore this bond of sisters with an imperfect real messy lens and find redemption and love in that relationship despite this chaos-just like in real life.
Domestic abuse is normally depicted in Hindi films as a mere prop to show violence against women?
Just like you said, I didn’t want it to be a mere prop. Domestic abuse is a reality for a scarily large number of women and children. As a storyteller, I had a deep desire to go beyond the surface of abuse and look at the generational impact of abuse on children, to understand the helplessness of women who are victims and unable to get out of this toxic abuse. We have all grown up everyone around us hearing-, it’s a ‘private matter’ let’s not interfere! That’s the most criminal act for people witnessing abuse and being silent. I wanted and needed to spotlight that. If we treat it as a criminal act with a consequence maybe the dismal statistic of abuse against women will start going down. It will make the family members or the neighbours think and intervene, which perhaps can save a life. Let’s at least make it difficult for them to brush it under the carpet. And my job would be done!
Which of the twins in Do Patti is you?
I am a bit of both. Actually, Kajol has been joking that there are twenty people in your head. I'd say more like 200. And writers, filmmakers, artists, the voices and the stories of varied people are what we need to breathe, stay alive, stay motivated. I am all my characters in bits and pieces.
What next from you?
I have an action thriller titled Gandhari in production as Kathha pictures next and also a theatrical that is going on floors mid-next year! Too early to give more details on that theatrical. Needless to say, I am extremely excited.The endeavour will always be to surprise you, entertain you and perhaps make you think! Huge gratitude from me to everyone watching my stories. Thank you for letting me tell them. See you at the movies!