Stolen: Producer Gaurav Dhingra In Surprise As Akshay Kumar Lauds Abhishek Banerjee Starrer

Abhishek Banerjee's film, Stolen, began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on June 4. The movie has garnered significant praise for its storytelling, execution, and performances. Produced by Gaurav Dhingra, it has not only captivated audiences but also impressed Bollywood celebrities with its unique narrative. Gaurav recently shared reactions from Bollywood actors discussed the film's journey.

Akshay Kumar is among those who praised Stolen, describing it as a powerful film. Gaurav Dhingra expressed his surprise at the positive feedback, saying, "It was a pleasant surprise to see so many people writing about the film. It made me realize that the story had genuinely touched quite a few people. Akshay Kumar also shared his appreciation - that was quite shocking for me. I mean, he's a big star. Unki nazar mein yeh film aayi. Yeh toh bahut acchi baat hai! So, I guess the film is really reaching places."

Collaboration with Industry Veterans

Stolen features Kiran Rao, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Nikkhil Advani as executive producers alongside Gaurav Dhingra. Gaurav explained how this collaboration came about: "I met Kiran when I was working on Mangal Pandey (2005) with Aamir while she was working on Swades (2004). Both films were shot in the same town, Wai. I've known them since then." He added that they officially joined last month to help reach a broader audience.

Gaurav shared insights into his experience working with Aamir Khan on projects like Rang De Basanti and Mangal Pandey. He described Aamir as meticulous and intelligent rather than a perfectionist. "He's not a perfectionist in the way people often label him," he said. "There's really no such thing as perfection." Gaurav mentioned that even when revisiting older films like Angry Indian Goddesses or Peddlers, he still feels like making edits.

Behind-the-Scenes Challenges

An interesting anecdote from Stolen's production involved a gunshot scene requiring specific car arrangements. Gaurav purchased a car months before shooting to allow ample preparation time for camera angles and lighting. However, during filming, an error occurred with headrests from a rented car being used instead of custom-made ones.

The scene involved four cameras, twenty stuntmen, hundreds of extras, and livestock in the desert setting. Despite losing light after insisting on retakes due to the headrest mistake, they reshot it the next day under perfect sunlight conditions that enhanced the scene's cinematic quality.

Commitment to Quality

Gaurav emphasized their dedication to maintaining high-quality production values for Stolen despite some labeling it an indie film: "We didn't compromise on anything." He noted that while some might see it as an indie project due to its tag or perception within industry circles - ultimately acknowledging its expense - achieving top-notch quality remained their primary goal throughout production.

Regarding Peddlers' release status either theatrically or via OTT platforms soon remains uncertain according to Gaurav: "I don't know; you'll have to ask Eros." He expressed disappointment over projects taking years without release but praised director Vasan Bala's work calling him fantastic while hoping Peddlers eventually sees daylight someday.