Vikram Phadnis gears up to showcase his first Hindi film,Pal Bhar Ke Liye,at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on August 16. This debut is a big moment for Phadnis, known for his Marathi films Hrudayantar (2017) and Smile Please (2019). The movie stars Saiyami Kher,Viineet Kumar Siingh, and Tahir Raj Bhasin.
Speaking from Melbourne, Phadnis shared his excitement for the premiere,emphasizing how crucial it is to reach audiences worldwide. He said,"I think every filmmaker wants a global platform. He wants the film to have a higher reach. We are just fortunate that in the films that got selected in 2026 at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne,Pal Bhar Ke Liye was one of them." He sees this as both validation and an emotional reward .
Switching from costume designer to filmmaker in 2007 after Salaam-e-Ishq,Phadnis reflects on how Marathi cinema prepared him for Hindi. "My experience in Marathi cinema has given me a lot of knowledge on the dos and don’ts while I step into the Hindi medium," he says. This background fuels his confidence in this new chapter .
The film holds personal significance for Phadnis. It draws inspiration from his mother's last years. "It’s a film I wrote for my mother while she was alive. It’s not her autobiography. It’s inspiration from my mother’s last four years of life and what she went through," he shared . His late father also pushed him to make this film, making it tribute to them both.
Music by Himesh Reshammiya is expected to surprise. "He will pleasantly surprise you. He has done magic in film," Phadnis commented, hinting at the unique sound Reshammiya brings to the table.
Phadnis talked about his casting choices,especially Viineet Kumar Singh, whose work in Chhaava impressed him. "I loved Viineet Kumar in it. I wanted him to play Angad’s character. I directly reached out to him. There was no audition," he said. Tahir Raj Bhasin joined just a week before filming,chosen for his mix of vulnerability and strength.
For Saiyami Kher,Phadnis found her a natural fit,saying, "Saiyami was planted in my film. It was like somebody just gave me Saiyami. I knew Saiyami had a hunger to prove. I knew there was a lot within her to explore." Her fresh take aligned with his vision for the role.
Phadnis's films are known for their emotional depth,a hallmark that continues with Pal Bhar Ke Liye. On why he gravitates toward emotional storytelling, he admitted, "It is the only genre I know. I knew I wanted my next film to be romantic. Because I am an emotional person,I can’t do films with action and humour." His focus on drama shapes his stories.
As for the film's release,Phadnis mentioned they would decide on their flight back from Melbourne . "We just want the world to absorb the film. We are hoping for a great response here in Melbourne. We want people to lap the film up and know that we are taking a story to the world. Pal Bhar Ke Liye is not a project; it’s cinema with heart," he concluded,underscoring his passion for storytelling.
