On Monday, Hrithik Roshan unveiled the trailer for ‘Pushtaini’, the much-anticipated directorial debut of his acting coach, Vinod Rawat. Taking to Instagram, Hrithik shared the trailer along with a heartfelt note, reflecting on Rawat’s journey and dedication to bringing the film to life.
The trailer begins by introducing Rawat as Bhuppi, a struggling actor desperate to secure his last shot at stardom. His life takes a dramatic turn when he finds himself entangled in an embarrassing scandal, forcing him to return to his roots and confront his past. Bhuppi’s journey through the mountains, filled with unexpected adventures and encounters with strangers, forms the crux of the story, promising a blend of humor, drama, and emotional depth.
Rajkummar Rao makes a special appearance in the film, adding to the excitement surrounding its release. ‘Pushtaini’ is written by Vinod Rawat, with contributions from co-writer Rita Heer. The film is produced by Lotus Dust Pictures in collaboration with Rawat’s own production house, VinRaw Films.
In his Instagram post, Hrithik Roshan reminisced about the early discussions he had with Rawat regarding ‘Pushtaini’. He shared, “When @vinraw first spoke to me of ‘PUSHTAINI’, I couldn’t quite imagine or visualize the film. I remember thinking this is a great germ of an idea but it seemed absurd to me that he would give up everything and put all his finances into executing it.”
Hrithik detailed the challenges Rawat faced, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown, when funds were scarce, and filming was halted. Despite these setbacks, Rawat’s determination never wavered. Hrithik recounted, “Months passed and I heard Covid had halted the film and he was down to his last Rs. 15,000. But Vinod was determined and said he would continue making the film and if anything went wrong, he would take that as his destiny and stop the project.”
The turning point came when Rawat finally presented the completed film to Hrithik. To Hrithik’s delight and surprise, the film exceeded all expectations. “To my utmost surprise and delight, the film made me laugh, it made me cry, and I came away absolutely awestruck with what this man had achieved singlehandedly, without any help whatsoever,” Hrithik wrote. “PUSHTAINI had a heart and it had won mine.”
Hrithik praised Rawat’s multifaceted talents, noting, “I have known Vinod to be an excellent coach but he truly surprised me as an actor, director, and producer. How he overcame all his limitations and created this magic was unbelievable to me.”
The actor emphasized the significance of supporting independent filmmakers, particularly in the context of Indian cinema’s recent global achievements. “My hope is Vinod’s journey will inspire us all to do all we can to support independent filmmakers in the country and create more space for new alternate voices to be heard,” Hrithik concluded.
The trailer for ‘Pushtaini’ promises a heartfelt and inspiring story, with the film set to release in cinemas on June 21, 2024. Meanwhile, Hrithik Roshan continues to work on his upcoming project, ‘War 2’.
