Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Kanika Dhillon Reinvents Gandhari as a Mother Fighting Her Battle
Gandhari is a film about a mother named Bani who is searching for her kidnapped daughter.
Bani’s search takes her into a dangerous situation.
Writer Kanika Dhillon based the story partly on her feelings as a mother.
She also changed the old idea of Gandhari from the Mahabharata.
In this film, Gandhari is imagined as a woman who takes control of her own fight.
Taapsee Pannu plays Bani.
The movie is directed by Devashish Makhija and includes action and thriller elements.
It was released on Netflix on September 3.
Writer-producer Kanika Dhillon said Gandhari reimagines the Mahabharata character as a woman who fights her own battle.
The film follows Bani, played by Taapsee Pannu, as she searches for her abducted daughter in the fictional town of Joypurra.
Dhillon said the story began with her personal feelings about motherhood, vulnerability and child safety.
Directed by Devashish Makhija, the film combines action and thriller elements and gives its protagonist greater agency.
Gandhari, produced by Kathha Pictures, debuted on Netflix on September 3.
- Who
- Writer-producer Kanika Dhillon, director Devashish Makhija and actor Taapsee Pannu are central to the film; Pannu plays Bani.
- What
- Gandhari is a film about a mother searching for her abducted daughter while confronting a dangerous reality.
- When
- The film debuted on Netflix on September 3.
- Where
- The story is set in the fictional town of Joypurra.
- Why
- Dhillon said she wanted to explore the power and vulnerability of motherhood and reinvent Gandhari as a woman with agency.
- Film
- Gandhari
- Writer-producer
- Kanika Dhillon
- Director
- Devashish Makhija
- Lead actor
- Taapsee Pannu
- Setting
- Joypurra, a fictitious town
- Platform
- Netflix
- Release
- September 3