Latest news with #RahulDholakia
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Raees Director Rahul Dholakia Says His Mother Was In ICU During The Shoot Of SRK Film
New Delhi: Raees director Rahul Dholakia opened up about his emotional challeneges while shooting for the Shah Rukh Khan film recently. He shared that his mother was in ICU, while he was shooting for the film. What's Happening During a conversation with The Times Of India, Rahul Dholakia also shared that filmmaking had taken a toll on his health. "I've had diabetes after one film, blood pressure after another, and a heart attack after one more," he recalled. Rahul Dholakia also revealed that the filmmaker has to deal with a lot of people's egos, tantrums and power games. "My mom was in the ICU, I was suffering from chronic pain... but I couldn't take off. SRK was on set, and I had to shoot. I would stay with my mom at the hospital at night, then come to set and pretend everything was normal. It was a nightmare - but you can't bring your problems on set," Rahul told the publication. The filmmaker recounted that talking about mental health is still a taboo in the industry. He said, "Our industry is such a performance-driven industry that people are afraid to say they're not well. There's always a fear of being dropped. No one wants to look weak. That's a big problem - it's always do or die. Your life is yours. Don't let anyone take it away from you. If you feel low, don't feel shy to take help - you have to look after yourself." About Raees Rahul Dholakia's Raees (2017) featured Shah Rukh Khan, Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles. Raees is said to be based on the criminal Abdul Latif's life. However, the filmmakers have denied this claim. In A Nutshell Raees director Rahul Dholakia revealed about his emotionally challenging shooting experience and how the industry still doesn't prioritize the talks on mental health.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Raees director Rahul Dholakia says he shot Shah Rukh Khan's film while his mother was in ICU: ‘It was a nightmare'
Bollywood filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, known for his National Film Award-winning film Parzania and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees, recently opened up about how mental health remains a stigma in the industry. In an interview with Times of India, Rahul recalled how he shot Raees while his mother was in the ICU and acted normal on set. Rahul Dholakia reveals why shooting Shah Rukh Khan's Raees was a nightmare. Rahul Dholakia on shooting Raees while his mother was in ICU Rahul spoke about suffering from diabetes after one film, blood pressure issues after another, and a heart attack after yet another. While discussing the stress of filmmaking, he revealed that managing the cast and crew of a film is a different challenge altogether. He further recalled shooting Raees while his mum was in the ICU and said, 'My mom was in the ICU, I was suffering from chronic pain... but I couldn't take off. SRK was on set, and I had to shoot. I would stay with my mom at the hospital at night, then come to set and pretend everything was normal. It was a nightmare — but you can't bring your problems on set.' Rahul Dholakia on mental health stigma in film industry The filmmaker also spoke about how mental health is still a taboo subject on film sets, saying, 'Our industry is such a performance-driven industry that people are afraid to say they're not well. There's always a fear of being dropped. No one wants to look weak. That's a big problem, it's always do or die.' About Rahul Dholakia Rahul began his career making documentaries and commercials, and even ran a TV station called TV Asia for a while. He made his Bollywood directorial debut with Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar in 2002. He followed this with Parzania, a film based on the real-life story of 10-year-old Parsi boy Azhar Mody, known as Parzan, who disappeared during the 28 February 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre. The film earned him the National Award for Best Director. In 2017, he directed Raees, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The film received mixed reviews upon release but still emerged as a box-office success, earning ₹281.45 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹92 crore. Rahul's most recent film was Agni, starring Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Jitendra Joshi, Saiyami Kher and Kabir Shah in lead roles. The film is available to watch on Prime Video.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rahul Dholakia opens up on battling a heart attack, shot Shah Rukh Khan's Raees while his mom was in the ICU: 'Don't let alcohol or smokes or any substance dictate you'
In an industry obsessed with box office numbers and back-to-back announcements, few dare to pause and speak about the toll it takes. Director , who is best known for Raees, Lamhaa and the National Award-winning Parzania, admits that mental and physical health have often been collateral damage in his filmmaking journey. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I've had diabetes after one film, blood pressure after another, and a heart attack after one more,' he shared with ETimes, recounting the physical consequences of an unrelenting career that's more chaos than comfort. 'Forget your personal problems — that's the job' Dholakia reveals how the stress of filmmaking doesn't end with the logistics of the shoot. 'We have to deal with so many egos, tantrums and power games even while making the film. Stress of making the film is understandable — but stress of handling cast, crew, producers and stars is just another ball game.' He particularly recalls the emotionally draining first schedule of Raees, starring . 'My mom was in the ICU, I was suffering from chronic pain... but I couldn't take off. was on set, and I had to shoot. I would stay with my mom at the hospital at night, then come to set and pretend everything was normal. It was a nightmare — but you can't bring your problems on set.' 'I sleep. Or I watch Rocky' When it gets too much, Dholakia turns to comfort — and movies. 'Whenever I feel low or depressed, I do two things: watch movies like Rocky, Legally Blonde, My Cousin Vinny… or I just sleep. I take one day at a time.' He adds that the quiet company of loved ones helps too. 'My mom and sister — when they are around — give me comfort. Or I visit a couple of close friends. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We don't have to talk about feeling low. We just hang. Be normal.' Amid the boycott trend, Rahul Dholakia points out suggestions for his Bollywood friends on how to make good movies 'People are afraid to say they're unwell' Mental health conversations may be growing in Bollywood, but Dholakia doesn't think the stigma is gone — especially on film sets. 'Our industry is such a performance-driven industry that people are afraid to say they're not well. There's always a fear of being dropped. No one wants to look weak. That's a big problem — it's always do or die.' His advice to younger artists: 'Your life is yours. Don't let anyone take it away from you. If you feel low, don't feel shy to take help — you have to look after yourself.' 'Don't let alcohol or smokes dictate you' Looking back, Dholakia shares a rare note of regret. 'If I could tell my younger self one thing, I'd say — don't let alcohol or smokes or any substance dictate you. Face the problems. Deal with them.'
