Director Sudhir Mishra’s latest film, “Afwaah,” tells the story of two individuals played by Bhumi Pednekar and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who are on the run because of a dangerous rumour. The film is set in Rajasthan, but its message about how rumours can create havoc in people’s lives could apply anywhere.
In an interview with PTI, Mishra said he wanted the audience to feel energised by the film and understand the dilemma faced by the characters. He explained that everything is sociopolitical, but his interest lies in exploring the stories of human beings caught in a dilemma.
Mishra believes that the film industry needs to have a conversation about how to tackle the challenges faced by theatrical releases in the era of streamers. He hopes “Afwaah” will be a game changer and bring audiences back to the cinema.
The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Anubhav Sinha’s Benaras Mediaworks and also features Sumeet Vyas, Sharib Hashmi, and Sumit Kaul in key roles. It is scheduled to be released on Friday.
Mishra has collaborated with Siddiqui before on the Netflix film “Serious Men,” and he said choosing the actor for “Afwaah” was an automatic choice. He praised Siddiqui as a new Indian, a man from a small town who made good in the West and has come back.
Pednekar’s casting, according to Mishra, was a happy accident. He believes that the actors’ performances will take the audience on a journey through the fast-paced thriller and hopefully, leave them with a better understanding of the dangers of rumours.
Mishra’s “Afwaah” warns about the dangers of rumours in a world of alternative facts. The film aims to energise audiences and bring them back to the cinema while exploring the stories of human beings caught in a dilemma.