Heart of the matter

DHADAK 2'S DIRECTOR SHAZIA IOBAL SHARES HER JOURNEY WITH SRIJITA SEN

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I first glimpsed the world of cinema through my father, who worked with Ramanand Sagar. Growing up around that environment planted a seed of curiosity, but it wasn't until I was studying architecture and working as a production designer that I discovered my true calling, writing.

My debut short film, Bebaak, which won the Filmfare Best Short Film in Fiction trophy, brought me into the spotlight as a filmmaker, and my first theatrical release, Dhadak 2, helped me become a more recognised name.

Backed by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, the film is both a spiritual sequel to Dhadak and a remake of the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal.

I wanted to explore caste-based discrimination for a mainstream audience, particularly at a time when big production houses often shy away from such subjects.

I strongly believe in balancing commercial and indie films, understanding that the success of one often fuels the growth of the other.