Production Designer Rupin Suchak Unveils the Intricate Work Behind 'Dhurandhar 2'
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, production designer Rupin Suchak has revealed the monumental efforts his team undertook to bring 'Dhurandhar 2' to life, including transforming parts of Mumbai into Pakistan and executing some of the film's most costly sequences under intense time pressure. His account sheds light on the often-overlooked scale of behind-the-scenes work that shapes major Bollywood productions.
A Challenging Mid-Project Handover
Suchak joined the two-part 'Dhurandhar' saga as an additional production designer after the original designer, Saini S Johray, exited the project. He explained that the film was shot as one integrated process, with portions of the second installment closely tied to the first. "It was an integrated shoot. It was not like an independent movie shoot happening all together for part two. So, a few portions in part two have been borrowed from the part one shoot," Suchak stated.
He further elaborated on the transition, noting, "The first part was done by another production designer who had to leave and didn't continue on the second part. We took the handover and we started executing the second part of it somewhere around midway because it was all a mix of both the parts." This mid-project handover added a layer of complexity to an already demanding production schedule.
Expensive Sets and Transformative Locations
Mounted on a reported budget of USD 33.6 million, 'Dhurandhar' was filmed across multiple locations, including Bangkok, Thailand, and Indian cities like Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. One of the most ambitious builds was the Lyari neighborhood set, which spanned six acres in Bangkok. Suchak highlighted, "The Lyari set creation was one of the most expensive creations which we have done within the film... Also, the set where Arjun Rampal's father is sitting and the whole bathtub sequence was also an expensive sequence."
The tight timeline significantly impacted the budget. Suchak explained, "Either the time or the money has to be calibrated. Since the time was short, the money was higher in execution. And, we did that. We were racing against time to complete that as we were closing on to the second part's release, and hence we had to complete that."
Mumbai Transformed into Pakistan
A key aspect of the production involved turning Mumbai into Pakistan for specific scenes. The team faced a major setback when they had to rebuild a crucial street sequence in Mumbai's Film City after encountering technical and permission issues at another location. "We actually opted for a full dress-up of a location in Mumbai, and due to some technical and permission issues, we were not able to continue. So we had to set up that. So we set that up in Film City entirely. That whole ambulance scene with Sanjay Dutt in the streets was also shot in Film City," Suchak revealed.
Additionally, the team shot near Bora Bazar in Mumbai, transforming this busy market area to depict Pakistan. This task was made especially difficult by the fact that access was only available on Sundays, adding another layer of challenge to the already tight production schedule ahead of the film's release.
The Scale of Behind-the-Scenes Work
Suchak's insights underscore the immense logistical and creative efforts required in large-scale filmmaking. From managing budget constraints and tight deadlines to overcoming location hurdles and executing complex set designs, his team's work was pivotal in delivering 'Dhurandhar 2' to audiences. This behind-the-scenes narrative highlights how production designers play a crucial role in bringing cinematic visions to life, often under immense pressure.
