Directed by Devashish Makhija and starring Taapsee Pannu, the emotional action thriller follows Bani, whose desperate search for her abducted daughter takes her into the dangerous underbelly of the fictional town of Joypurra.

Kanika Dhillon, who has previously written women-centric films for Pannu including Rashmi Rocket, Haseen Dillruba and Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, said she deliberately chose not to retain the traditional portrayal of Gandhari.

Rather than defining the character through her relationship with Dhritarashtra, Kanika wanted to give her agency and the opportunity to take control of her own destiny.

“I wanted to reinvent her in my own world, in my own Kurukshetra,” she said.

The genesis of Gandhari, however, came from a deeply personal place. Dhillon said motherhood made her acutely aware of the fear and vulnerability surrounding a child’s safety. That emotion became the foundation for a story about a mother willing to cross every boundary to protect her child.

“I felt that a mother possesses a divine power within her,” the writer-producer said, describing motherhood as a force capable of pushing a woman beyond every limitation.

The film also allowed Kanika to explore action, a genre she has long been drawn to. Pannu’s character was partly influenced by the writer's college experience of volunteering with visually impaired people, which shaped her perspective on turning perceived limitations into sources of strength.

Known for blending genres, Kanika said predictability does not interest her as a writer. Gandhari combines motherhood, mythology, action and thriller elements to create a distinctly contemporary interpretation of a familiar epic figure.

Dhillon also confirmed that she intends to make her directorial debut soon. While she remained tight-lipped about the project, she said her motivation to direct comes from wanting to translate what she has written on paper into an interpretation that can elevate the material further.

Produced by Dhillon’s Kathha Pictures, Gandhari also stars Ishwak Singh, Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Jatin Sarna. The film premiered on Netflix on September 3.