Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, known for films like Dangal and Chhichhore, recently revealed that directing his debut film Chillar Party was never part of his plan. Speaking on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers podcast, Tiwari shared insights about the film’s unexpected journey from script to screen.
Nitesh Tiwari reveals Chillar Party was never a part of the plan; says, “When Vikas Bahl and I started writing, it was just a weekend project”
Tiwari recalled how he and Vikas Bahl initially wrote the script for fun. “That fear never came because we never wanted to direct Chillar Party,” he admitted. “When Vikas and I started writing, it was just a weekend project. I was in advertising, and he had his own job. We wrote it purely for enjoyment, and as it developed, we realized we had something special.”
However, turning the script into a film was not easy. The duo approached multiple directors, but none were willing to take it on. “We took it to 7-8 directors, but no one wanted to make it. They felt a movie about 10 kids and a dog wouldn’t work without a hero. Some feared being typecast as children’s filmmakers,” he said.
Eventually, the only option left was for them to direct it themselves. “Vikas asked if I would direct it. I said, ‘No mad dog has bitten me! I have a stable career in advertising and no experience in direction.’ But he insisted, saying we should do it together or drop the film entirely. So, I thought, why not take the risk? If it didn’t work, I still had engineering to fall back on.”
Released in 2011, Chillar Party became a sleeper hit, winning the National Award for Best Children’s Film and earning praise for its heartfelt story. The film followed a group of children fighting against societal injustice to save a stray dog, touching upon themes of friendship and resilience. Even over a decade later, it continues to be one of Bollywood’s most celebrated children’s films.
Also Read: Director Nitesh Tiwari reveals they wrote 5 alternative endings for Dangal; says, “We wrote five different versions”
More Pages: Chillar Party Box Office Collection , Chillar Party Movie Review
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