“Dhokha Round D Corner” director Kookie Gulati says, “The intention was to create a film true to itself”!

After the success of “#TheBigBull,” director Kookie Gulati ventured into a new genre with his film, “#DhokhaRoundDCorner.” This psychological thriller features a stellar cast, including R. Madhavan, Aparshakti Khurana, Darshan Kumaar, and newcomer Khushalii Kumar. Set in a confined house environment, the film weaves a complex narrative filled with surprising twists and turns, keeping audiences guessing about the true hero and heroine. “Dhokha Round D Corner” showcases Gulati’s versatility and ability to craft compelling stories across different genres.

Kookie Gulati started his career in the early 2000s, primarily directing music videos. He was closely associated with Tips Films and played a significant role in launching artists like Jazzy B and Atif Aslam. He has also worked with various prominent names such as Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi, and Stereo Nation. Over the years, Gulati has directed over 300 music videos, including several film songs and promotional trailers.

Director Kookie Gulati shares his experience working with the cast, he says, “The casting for Dhokha was crucial and very challenging. I needed four people for the film, and if you’ve seen it, you can’t tell who the hero or heroine is because it keeps changing. There were certain surprise elements and specific demands for filming in a house setting. Even if I had Shah Rukh Khan in the film, I would have still shot it in the house.”

He further added, “The story was unchangeable for me. The script dictated its own needs, not mine. The intention was to create a film true to itself. During that time, I met Bhushanji, who loved the story and script, and his team supported it too. We signed the film, but then Covid happened, causing chaos. Amidst this, I got a call from them saying Maddy and Khushalii were supposed to do a film that didn’t materialize, and they asked if I would like to narrate to them. I always wanted Maddy to play the husband’s character. I had approached him with Dhokha in 2017 but couldn’t put it together then due to lack of backing. But when I heard Maddy was interested, I was thrilled because he’s a superstar. Meeting Khushalii, I realized her immense hunger and wanted a new face for the female role to maintain mystery. Her casting felt phenomenal. Aparshakti ‘s casting was a real challenge as well because we had never seen him play a character like the one in Dhokha.”

“Dhokha Round D Corner” achieved impressive success on Netflix, reaching the number 6 spot worldwide and securing the number 2 position in India after its OTT release.

Director Kookie Gulati has an impressive background in the film industry, having worked as an Associate Director on popular films like Ishq Vishk and Fida. He made his directorial debut with the feature film Prince, starring Vivek Oberoi, and later served as Creative Director for the comedy hit Total Dhamaal. The Big Bull director is currently busy with the development of his new project and will commence shooting soon.

By Keerti Kadam