Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia has spoken about two ambitious projects that never reached the screen despite starting production. The director recalled how his films Killing of a Porn Filmmaker with Irrfan Khan and the period drama Ghulami with Sunny Deol and Sameera Reddy were halted after shooting had already begun. In an interview with India Today, Dhulia said the experience cost him years of his career, stating, “I wasted many years doing this kind of work.”
The Killing Of A Porn Filmmaker Started Right After Charas
Dhulia began work on Killing of a Porn Filmmaker immediately after the release of his 2004 film Charas. The director described the project as a completely different kind of film that he was eager to make. Irrfan Khan was set to play the lead role of a porn director.
“My third film — the day Charas released, the next day, I started a film which was called Killing of a Porn Filmmaker. It was a different kind of film. It was really different,” Dhulia recalled.
The filmmaker shot for seven to eight days before the producer backed out. According to Dhulia, the producer simply withdrew from the project, leaving the film incomplete. The movie was never finished.
Reports from Bollywood Hungama indicate that Dhulia had planned to make three films with Irrfan, none of which materialised. The director and actor had previously worked together on successful projects like Haasil (2003), Charas (2004), Paan Singh Tomar (2012), and Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns (2013).
Ghulami Halted After Three Days Of Shooting
In 2005, Dhulia started work on Ghulami, a period film based on the First War of Independence in 1857. The film had an impressive cast including Sunny Deol, Sameera Reddy, and Irrfan Khan, along with many actors from London.
The production was elaborate. Dhulia and his team spent one-and-a-half years on research. They prepared horses, elephants, weapons, costumes, locations, and sets. After just three days of shooting, the producer stopped the film due to monetary reasons.
“I was stupid. I had a new producer, and he said, ‘I had to get money from somewhere,’ which did not come, and then the film stopped. I wasted many years doing this kind of work,” Dhulia said.
The director admitted that working with an inexperienced producer proved costly. Reports from 2007 published by India Forums and IANS noted that the film’s producer, Pramod Sharma, fell from a high building and broke every bone in his body. He was in hospital for a year. This event contributed to the financial troubles that halted the production.
Two Years Of Hard Work Went Down The Drain
Dhulia has spoken about the emotional and professional toll of these shelved projects. For Ghulami, the director said two years of hard work came to a halt. The film was about his favourite period of history, 1857, and he had assembled a large cast and crew.
“For ‘Ghulami’, we had a huge set and we had started shooting. It was about my favourite period of history, 1857. We had got the weapons, costumes, actors from London, juniors, artists, horses, etc. After three days of shooting, the producer stopped the film because of monetary reasons. It was an expensive film and two years of our hard work came to a halt,” he recalled.
For Killing of a Porn Filmmaker, Dhulia had shot for a week and even recorded songs with Sneha Khanwalkar, who later composed music for Gangs of Wasseypur. The film was never completed.
Haamil Also Faced Setbacks
The shelved projects were not the only ones that faced trouble. Dhulia revealed that even his first film, Haasil (2003), encountered setbacks. The film’s producers refused to submit it for the National Film Awards, something Dhulia believes may have cost Irrfan Khan a national honour for his performance in that film.
Irrfan eventually won the Best Actor award for Paan Singh Tomar at the National Film Awards.
Director Still Wants To Make Ghulami
Despite the setbacks, Dhulia has not entirely given up on Ghulami. When asked whether he would consider reviving the film, the director said he still intends to make it. However, the project has evolved considerably over the years.
“I don’t get any actor who speaks that kind of language. Actors are also a problem here. Where do we have them?” Dhulia said.
The director explained that finding actors capable of speaking the language authentically has become a major challenge. The film was set in the 1857 period and required a specific style of dialogue and performance.
Dhulia Reflects On Industry Typecasting
During the conversation, Dhulia also reflected on why filmmakers struggle to move beyond the kind of cinema with which they become associated. Known for stories centred on crime, politics, and the hinterlands, he agreed that audiences and the industry expect a certain kind of film from him.
“Yes, they do. And it’s very unfortunate. They will not let you blossom,” he said.
Dhulia cited Bullett Raja, starring Saif Ali Khan, as an example of what happened when he tried something different. The film did not perform as expected, and Dhulia felt the industry’s expectations limited his creative choices.
Ghamasaan Released On OTT Instead Of Theatres
Dhulia’s latest film, Ghamasaan, was originally intended for a theatrical release. The gangster drama features Arshad Warsi, Pratik Gandhi, and Rajpal Yadav in lead roles. However, the film eventually arrived on an OTT platform instead.
The change disappointed Dhulia. He said it was particularly frustrating because he considers Ghamasaan a commercial film rather than an unconventional project. The film is currently streaming on ZEE5.
“It is a commercial film. They don’t understand whether it is a commercial film or not. It is a simple name, ‘Ghamasaan’. There are guns and bullets. It is a simple story. The story is conventional,” he said.
Director Criticises Bollywood’s Lack Of Vision
In a separate interview with PTI, Dhulia criticised the way projects are selected and developed in the Hindi film industry. He believes creative freedom is often restricted by those who decide which films receive approval.
“Every film is a struggle. If you want to say a story in a different way, this industry stops us from making good art. The people who greenlit projects here have zero vision. So, you are cursed,” he said.
Dhulia also questioned the industry’s continued dependence on familiar formulas despite inconsistent results. He pointed out that producers have a higher ratio of flops despite following established rules.
Irrfan Khan’s Legacy Lives On
Irrfan Khan died on April 29, 2020, at the age of 54 after battling a rare neuroendocrine tumour. Dhulia has often spoken about their friendship and creative partnership, which began at the National School of Drama in Delhi in the late 1980s.
Dhulia also revealed that he had planned a biopic on Mughal-e-Azam director K Asif with Irrfan. The director said he feels the actor is still urging him to complete the project.
“I hear Irrfan Khan saying, ‘Make this film.’ I wanted to do this film with Irrfan and I know that Irrfan isn’t stopping me and is rather saying, ‘Make this film,’” Dhulia said.
The proposed biopic centres on K Asif, best known for directing the iconic film Mughal-e-Azam. Dhulia said the idea was born out of conversations with Irrfan, and he remains determined to bring the project to life.
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Upcoming Project With Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Dhulia is now working on a movie adaptation of Hindi writer Uday Prakash’s short story, Dilli Ki Deewar. The film is called Wo Phir Kabhi Dikha Nahin. The story is set against the backdrop of a slum in Delhi.
Shooting for the film has reportedly been completed. The movie stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role and is expected to release later this year.
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