Aditya Dhar introduces the ‘soul’ of Dhurandhar, and it’s not Ranveer Singh: ‘He never once let the vision falter’

He wrote, “Here’s to Vikash Nowlakha, the eye, the instinct, and the soul behind Dhurandhar. He was the last HOD to come on board, Dhurandhar. Just a few days before we began. And knowing how deeply selective he is, that timing meant everything. It felt less like onboarding a cinematographer and more like destiny quietly stepping in at the right moment. I still remember what he said after reading the script, ‘I’ve waited 30 years to do a film like this. I’ll give my life to it.’ And he meant every word.”

The filmmaker went on to praise Vikash’s dedication to his craft and wrote, “What followed was not just work, it was devotion. Through impossible schedules, through chaos that often felt unmanageable, through shooting what was essentially two films in the time and cost of one, Vikash stood at the centre of it all, steady and relentless. Carrying the weight of the film quite literally on his shoulders, pushing through the burning heat of Amritsar and the harsh cold of Leh, he never once let the vision falter.”

Aditya further explained that what makes Vikash rare is not just his endurance, but the “soul in his gaze”, his eye for detail, his emotional intelligence behind the lens, and his ability to understand not just what a scene looks like, but what it feels like. He added, “Every frame in Dhurandhar breathes because he allowed it to. He didn’t just capture moments, he gave them life. His inputs on set were never loud, but always precise. Always truthful. Always elevating the film. There are many who shoot films. Vikash lived this one.”

He concluded, “And in doing so, he has given Dhurandhar something that cannot be manufactured — a soul. I feel immense gratitude, respect, and affection for the artist he is, and the human being he brought into this journey. This film carries his imprint forever. And I know this is only the beginning — the stories we will tell together from here on will go even further, shine even brighter, and create something truly timeless.”

The film’s cast also cheered for Vikash in the comment section. Sara Arjun called him “the best”. Udaybir Sandhu wrote, “Your craft, creativity and vision elevates everything you touch, sir. It’s truly a privilege to witness your work and be captured on film by you. 🙌🏻 Keep surfing and being the amazing human that you are.” Naveen Kaushik also praised his calmness and cheered for his hard work and success.