Dia Mirza Rekhi is gearing up for the release of her third release of the year, Dhak Dhak, after Bheed and Made In Heaven season two. Dhak Dhak revolves around four ordinary women who set out on a bike ride and a journey of self-discovery. The film marks Taapsee Pannu’s debut production venture and also stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi. To reach the shoot location, interestingly, the cast of the film drove their bikes from New Delhi to Khardung La, which is the highest motorable road in India.
In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Dia, who learned to ride a bike in her forties a few months after giving birth to her son, says that the journey was ‘daunting’ but nothing short of magical. “It was a revelation and life-transforming. In an industry that’s so patriarchal, it’s so difficult to get such a simple, honest, dignified, and feminist story that’s so rooted in empathy. Just like in the story, we were four strangers who came together to tell this story,” she tells us.
Dia goes on to reveal that one of the toughest days was when Fatima had an epileptic attack during the shoot but that the cast always made it a point to lend a shoulder to one another. Recalling the episode, Dia says, “The oxygen was thin, the routes were hard and Fatty had a few situations where she had an epileptic attack. But within seconds, she got up and did one of the most dramatic and significant scenes in the film. I’ve sobbed not because she’s a brilliant performer but looking at her sheer commitment as an artist.”
Further lauding her co-stars, she adds, “We truly rallied around each other. Women not getting along with one another is perceived to be more entertaining.”
Dia also hails the production team for creating a safe and hospital environment for the cast and the crew even at the highest altitudes of Jammu & Kashmir. “On a normal day, just as a rider, it’s hard enough. Imagine travelling with a crew strength of 200 people and caring for them! We had all kinds of sickness happening because the oxygen levels were low after a certain point. There were extraordinary challenges. But we ate hot food and got access to everything we needed to be strong, comfortable, and happy,” she beams.
Making Dhak Dhak was no cakewalk, states Dia. Revisiting the days after she came onboard the film, she shares, “To have been able to make it and put it out there is a triumph. I was the first one to be cast in this film. I had the script sitting with me for seven to eight months. I know the process the producers, Taapsee and Pranjal, went through to bring it all together. It wasn’t easy to tell this story. It takes a lot of fortitude, strength, and belief in the subject that they’ve pulled off.”
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