Dhak Dhak unit first to ride to world’s highest motorable pass

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It was a ride of a lifetime for the cast and crew of Dhak Dhak as they rode from Delhi to shoot in Khardung La. For the first time in the history of Indian cinema, a full unit rode to the highest motorable pass in the world to shoot a scene with all the lead actors.

Braving extreme weather, heavy rainfall, sandstorms and temperatures ranging from 48 degrees to -2 degrees Celsius, the team wrapped up the difficult Ladakh schedule with surging emotions within them.

Talking about the first linear Delhi to Leh 40 days’ schedule, Dia Mirza said, “The most memorable instance for us on this film was making it to the Khardung La Pass! It holds such deep significance to each of our characters in the story, and each one of us felt it. I feel immense gratitude for our producers, the crew, and most importantly the Indian Army, for making the experience smooth for us.”

Fatima Sana Sheikh added, “I was the most excited about this schedule as I love going for bike-rides, but this journey pushed my limits, personally and as an actor. We made it through all the ups and downs and reached Khardung La! It was an unbelievable and exhilarating experience to shoot there, and by the end of it I know I’ve learnt so much more about myself as a performer and a person.”

Speaking about the film, Ratna Pathak Shah says “If someone had told me six months ago that I would be riding a bike all the way to Ladakh at 65, I would have laughed! This film has been special to me in many ways. It has forced me to face my fears, taught me to trust myself, my colleagues and my crew in stressful situations, taken me to one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places in the world and introduced me to some wonderful people. When a film becomes an adventure for all involved, it stops being a product and becomes an experience. The story becomes a part of us!”

Sanjana Sanghi contributed, “There are some moments in life that simply don’t feel real, that are just larger than life! Being on the road for weeks had been a transformational journey, culminating at the breathtaking Khardung La Pass. It’s been challenging and physically grueling, yet tremendously satisfying.”

The producers too are ecstatic to have pulled off such a feat to give audiences real visuals and scale in this unique road journey drama. It is the story of self-discovery of four women who decide to go on a journey to the highest motorable pass in the world and learn new dimensions of life.

A Viacom18 Studios and Outsiders Films production in association with BLM Pictures, Dhak Dhak is directed by Tarun Dudeja and will hit cinema screens in 2023. The film is co-produced by Taapsee Pannu, Pranjal Khandhdiya and Ayush Maheshwari and written by Parijat Joshi and Tarun Dudeja. The film is likely to be released on an OTT platform, which, given the subject and scale, is a very pragmatic decision.