Meet Dhwani Shah | Screenwriter & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dhwani Shah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dhwani, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
Recently, two books really left a mark on me: “The Big Hoom” by Jerry Pinto and “The Bastard of Istanbul” by Elif Shafak. Each book captures its city—Mumbai and Istanbul—not just as a backdrop but almost as a character that interacts with the people living there.

“The Big Hoom” hit close to home because it’s set in Mumbai, where I’m from. The way Pinto blends the city’s energy and challenges with the personal struggles of the Mendes family makes it so real. It’s not just about mental illness or family dynamics; it’s about how the city itself can shape these experiences. His writing makes you laugh one moment and cry the next, and it made me see my city in a new light.

On the other hand, “The Bastard of Istanbul” gave me a glimpse into Istanbul, a city that’s as layered and complex as Mumbai. Shafak weaves the city’s history into the lives of her characters, showing how past and present coexist and influence each other. It’s also so fascinating that she uses food as the central element to bring out the cultural richness. Throughout the novel, food is more than just a substance, it’s like heritage that is being passed down.

Both books have deepened my understanding of places are shaped by their people, just as people are shaped by their places.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am not the best when it comes to analysing my own art. A lot of the choices I make come from the gut and a spiritual realm of sorts. The second I try to take it up to the brain and intellectualise it, the fun goes away. So lately I’ve learned to trust my gut a lot more.

In terms of challenges, I have dealt with mine by taking onus and creating my own opportunities instead of waiting for one to pop up. This usually means hustling, working over weekends and having three jobs at one time. But the thing I like about the film industry is that hard work eventually pays off. Especially in the current climate where there’s a general sentiment of people trying to uplift one another.

I think what sets me apart in some ways is my approach with genre-filmmaking, mainly horror, and using it as a device to have a larger socially-relevant conversation. My upcoming film Tasveer, is a psychological horror where a woman gets haunted by a camera – and the camera in return is a metaphor for the male gaze.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Where does one even begin, New York City is literally a human museum! There’s so much to do. I am the kind of person who loves exploring on foot, so I often go around walking and people-watching with no real direction in mind; letting myself come upon sights. Soho is definitely my neighbourhood to walk around in the city. I’m also a big museum goer, and I can (and always do) easily spend the whole day looking at exhibits. MOMA takes the cake with that. The High Line is another fantastic park to walk through and watch the sunset.

My top favourite bars in the city (right now!) are Apotheke, Elnico and Duplex! Oh and Eavesdrop in Greenpoint, a recent favourite!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to take this moment to thank Vishnu Tenkayala. Not only is he one of the best DOPs I know, but also he has been my one stop shop for any and every film related questions I’ve had over the years.

From silly doubts about the names of things to heavily technical lighting breakdowns, he has never made me feel small for asking a question twice and has always patiently answered me, sometimes a few times over.

When I took the leap of faith into indie filmmaking, he was the first person to join my bandwagon and help bring my vision to life. Without his support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: https://www.dhwanimakesfilms.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhwanishah11/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhwanimakesfilms/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ladybugfilmsin