Writer Kanika Dhillon reveals actors ‘quit’ Manmarziyaan midway, film was reshot with Abhishek, Vicky, Taapsee: ‘They were hesitant audience won’t accept it’
In an interview with SCREEN, writer-producer Kanika Dhillon revealed that her 2018 romantic drama Manmarziyan was reshot with a different star cast because actors quit the film midway. Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan finally essayed the lead roles.
Written by Navya Kharbanda
New Delhi | Updated: March 19, 2025 11:46 AM IST
3 min read
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Kanika Dhillon reveals Manmarziyaan was reshot because actors left midway.
Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, and Taapsee Pannu’s 2018 romantic drama Manmarziyaan may not have done wonders at the box office, but received a positive reception from the critics and fans alike. The film’s screenwriter Kanika Dhillon has now revealed that the film was initially shot with a different cast before being reshot with these actors. In an interview with SCREEN, the writer-producer shared how actors left the film midway, which led to the project being revamped.
Also a producer now, Dhillon started her journey as a writer. During her early days after writing Manmarziyaan, she recalled that the difficulties were immeasurable. “To find a voice in the industry is the first big step that you have to take as a writer. I was working on Manmarziyaan when I wasn’t that strong. It took me 4-5 years to get the film greenlit, write it, re-write it, groom it and find people to make it. It was my biggest challenge so far,” she said.
The writer-producer revealed that she wrote the film four years before it actually got made. “Love stories can get redundant, you have to keep updating your characters. While I was waiting for someone to hear and make the story, one would keep at it and working on it. Manmarziyaan remains the most challenging film for me,” Dhillon shared.
The challenges weren’t limited to writing the film again, it was actually when it had to be reshot. “Manmarziyaan started and it stopped in between, and then it restarted with a different set of actors. A lot of people were hesitant to play these roles because they felt uncomfortable that the audience won’t accept it.”
She continued, “It seemed very risky to them to have the husband supporting Rumi and then the boyfriend being commitment phobic, every character while I was going out to cast, I was met with certain insecurities. Eventually, these actors who played it were the best. It was more of something like destiny choosing them.”
After revisiting Manmarziyaan turbulent journey, Dhillon also spoke about the evolving dynamics of Bollywood. She noted that audiences are becoming more picky about what they want to watch in theatres, choosing content over stardom. “The industry is going through a bit of a change and recalibration. Moreover, with the advent of OTT, it has had an impact on the theatrical habits of the audience. The strong competition among films has also made people pick and choose what they want to step out for. One is trying to figure around this new system. Stories are going to be the center of this compelling universe. We will have to work harder on our stories,” she expressed.
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She added, “When you get a star, it benefits you to get the initial eyeballs. Having said that, the changing nature of the industry and changing habits of the audiences, success of the film clearly rests on the content now. If they love it, they will come and watch it. The audience has made their mandate clear in the past year. This shift towards story and content is good because stories need to be the world of storytelling.”
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
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