Reema Kagti, a filmmaker, claims that after working together with Zoya Akhtar for years on critically acclaimed films like “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” “Talaash,” and “Gully Boy,” they have formed a seamless and effective working relationship akin to that of a well-oiled machine.
Kagti explained how their productive creative cooperation, which also gave birth to the film “Dil Dhadakne Do” and the web series “Made in Heaven,” works by first starting with a germ of an idea and moving on to world-building.
“One of us would get fascinated by a single phrase or notion, and we would then begin to discuss it. Before beginning the script, we do extensive research and spend a lot of time developing the plot. So, at that time, the planet is being created. We seem to be operating like a well-oiled machine right now, Kagti said in an interview with PTI.
“Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.”, Kagti's maiden film as a filmmaker, was also co-produced by Akhtar. The two collaborated on the scripts for Akhtar's films “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” “Dil Dhadakne Do,” and “Gully Boy.” In 2015, they launched Tiger Baby Films, their production banner.
Their most recent endeavor is the “Dahaad” series on Prime Video, which stars Sonakshi Sinha, Vijay Verma, Gulshan Devaiah, and Sohum Shah.
Akthar, a lover of criminal drama series, said that both of them were eager to travel and share stories.
We both like and watch a lot of this genre. So you think, “This would be interesting, it will be a great show,” when you start talking about anything we have read or watched.
“So, basically, it starts because we are viewers, and then we become creators because you want to make what you like to see,” Akhtar remarked.
She said, “Serial killers are frightening, but they are fascinating to watch as a viewer.” “It just so happens that you find these tales fascinating. Human nature dictates that you want to know what occurred and who was responsible.
The eight-part crime thriller, which is set in a tiny town in Rajasthan, follows sub-inspector Anjali Bhaati (Sinha) and her coworkers as they look into the case of many women who were inexplicably discovered dead in public restrooms.
It was conceived by Akhtar and Kagti, who also served as the show's directors with “Island City” star Ruchika Oberoi.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Kagti, they began developing “Dahaad” in 2020.
“It happened well before any of the two COVID-19 lockdowns. It was intended to create a powerful female persona. In addition, Zoya and I both like crime, thriller, and suspense movies. That was the beginning, she claimed.
Despite being a serial killer thriller, “Dahaad” also focuses on the “societal pressure of marriage that can make women very vulnerable,” Akthar said.
The series debuted on Prime Video on Friday. It was produced by Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby, with executive producers Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Kagti, and Zoya Akhtar.
