Rahul Dholakia
Encyclopedia
Rahul Dholakia is an India
n film director
-producer
-screenwriter
, most known for his National Film Award winning film, Parzania
(Heaven & Hell On Earth) (2005), prior to which he also made documentaries like Teenage Parents and New York Taxi Drivers.
in Mumbai, he went on to do his Bachelors in Science from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
, Mora Ava. He also worked with producer Babla Sen, for project for Channel 4
, London, as production assistant and 10 documentaries later became a producer himself. Later, he started working with Everest Advertising in Mumbai as an assistant, growing up to become a producer.
Thereafter, he moved to New York
in 1990, where, he did his Masters in filmmaking from the New York Institute of Technology
, and has been in India and Corona, California
, USA ever since. After making a couple of documentaries and commercials, and even running TV station, called 'TV Asia' for a while, he made his feature film debut with the Hindi-English bilingual, Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar (2002), starring Paresh Rawal
and Jimmy Shergill
, it was also the first Hindi film shot entirely in America. His next film based on a real life story of 10-year old Parsi boy, Azhar Mody, known as Parzaan, who disappeared during the February 28, 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre
, which took place during communal riots in Gujarat
in 2002, Parzania
won him the National Film Award for 2006.
After shooting in Kashmir, his next film Lamhaa
, where Sanjay Dutt
and Bipasha Basu
played the leads, in a story based in Kashmir was released to good reviews.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
-producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
-screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, most known for his National Film Award winning film, Parzania
Parzania
Parzania is a 2007 Indian drama film co-written and directed by Rahul Dholakia; David N. Donihue is the other co-writer. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles, while Corin Nemec and Raj Zutshi played supporting roles...
(Heaven & Hell On Earth) (2005), prior to which he also made documentaries like Teenage Parents and New York Taxi Drivers.
Early life and education
Born in Mumbai, to Raksha and Parry Dholakia, an advertising professional, Rahul also has an elder sister Moha. After completing his schooling from Campion School, Mumbai and Jamnabai Narsee SchoolJamnabai Narsee School
Jamnabai Narsee School is a private school in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was founded on January 17, 1971 and is managed by the Narsee Monjee Education Trust. The school building is unusual in architecture with three clusters of hexagonal classrooms, each with a central foyer...
in Mumbai, he went on to do his Bachelors in Science from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Career
While still in college he started working in his father’s advertising agencyAdvertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
, Mora Ava. He also worked with producer Babla Sen, for project for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, London, as production assistant and 10 documentaries later became a producer himself. Later, he started working with Everest Advertising in Mumbai as an assistant, growing up to become a producer.
Thereafter, he moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1990, where, he did his Masters in filmmaking from the New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational research university in New York City. NYIT has five schools and two colleges, all with a strong emphasis on technology and applied scientific research...
, and has been in India and Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
, USA ever since. After making a couple of documentaries and commercials, and even running TV station, called 'TV Asia' for a while, he made his feature film debut with the Hindi-English bilingual, Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar (2002), starring Paresh Rawal
Paresh Rawal
Paresh Rawal is an Indian actor of Gujarati background.Making his film debut in 1984, he mainly played supporting and villain roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Since 2000 he has mostly played comic roles.- Family and early life :...
and Jimmy Shergill
Jimmy Shergill
Jasjit Singh Gill , popularly known as Jimmy Shergill , is an Indian actor.-Early life:Shergill was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Gorakhpur, India and studied there till 5th Grade in St. Paul's School. Then, his family shifted to Patiala...
, it was also the first Hindi film shot entirely in America. His next film based on a real life story of 10-year old Parsi boy, Azhar Mody, known as Parzaan, who disappeared during the February 28, 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre
Gulbarg Society massacre
The Gulbarg Society massacre took place on February 28, 2002, during the 2002 Gujarat riots, when a mob attacked the Gulbarg Society, a Muslim neighbourhood in Chamanpura, Ahmedabad...
, which took place during communal riots in Gujarat
2002 Gujarat violence
The 2002 Gujarat violence describes the Godhra train burning and resulting communal riots between Hindus and Muslims. On 27 February 2002 at Godhra City in the state of Gujarat, the Sabarmati Express train was attacked by a large Muslim mob in a conspiracy. But some authentic sources deny the claim...
in 2002, Parzania
Parzania
Parzania is a 2007 Indian drama film co-written and directed by Rahul Dholakia; David N. Donihue is the other co-writer. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles, while Corin Nemec and Raj Zutshi played supporting roles...
won him the National Film Award for 2006.
After shooting in Kashmir, his next film Lamhaa
Lamhaa
-Controversy:Lamhaa was banned in GCC countries i.e. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Oman. UAE National Media Council Censorship Board felt that the content of the movie is highly objectionable and controversial....
, where Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
and Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.-Early life:...
played the leads, in a story based in Kashmir was released to good reviews.
Filmography
- Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar BaarKehtaa Hai Dil Baar BaarKehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar is a 2002 Indian Bollywood film directed by Rahul Dholakia and stars Jimmy Shergill, Kim Sharma, Paresh Rawal in pivotal roles.-Cast:* Jimmy Shergill... Sunder Kapoor* Kim Sharma... Ritu Patel...
(2002) (director) - ParzaniaParzaniaParzania is a 2007 Indian drama film co-written and directed by Rahul Dholakia; David N. Donihue is the other co-writer. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles, while Corin Nemec and Raj Zutshi played supporting roles...
(2005)(writer, director, producer) - Mumbai CuttingMumbai CuttingMumbai Cutting is a 2010 anthology Indian film comprising eleven short films, telling eleven different stories based on life in Mumbai, which are directed by a host of eleven directors: Anurag Kashyap, Sudhir Mishra, Rahul Dholakia, Kundan Shah, Revathy, Jahnu Barua, Rituparno Ghosh, Shashanka...
(2008) (segment "Bombay Mumbai Same Shit") (writer & director) - LamhaaLamhaa-Controversy:Lamhaa was banned in GCC countries i.e. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Oman. UAE National Media Council Censorship Board felt that the content of the movie is highly objectionable and controversial....
(2009) (writer & director)
Awards
- National Film AwardsNational Film AwardsThe National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
- 2006: National Film Award for Best DirectionNational Film Award for Best DirectingThe National Film Award for Best Direction winners are given below. Satyajit Ray has been awarded the maximum number of times in this category....
: ParzaniaParzaniaParzania is a 2007 Indian drama film co-written and directed by Rahul Dholakia; David N. Donihue is the other co-writer. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles, while Corin Nemec and Raj Zutshi played supporting roles...
- 2006: National Film Award for Best Direction