Seven years after the release of "Uri: The Surgical Strike," director Aditya Dhar reflects on the "hard, unforgiving journey" of filmmaking, celebrating the film that launched his career and became a defining patriotic blockbuster.
Dhar took to Instagram to commemorate the anniversary, sharing his thoughts on the film and his journey as a filmmaker. "My first film, Uri, released that day. I had waited a long time for that moment. My dream finally became a reality," Dhar wrote. He emphasized the clear intent from the beginning: "To make a brave, bold film that could signal a new phase in our cinema. To tell an Indian story with international standards".
He also reflected on the challenging nature of filmmaking. "I remind myself often to never forget where it all began. Beginnings keep you grounded and hungry," Dhar stated. "Filmmaking is a hard, unforgiving journey, full of doubt and long nights. But when the audience shows up and embraces your work, every struggle suddenly makes sense. That feeling makes it all worth it".
"Uri: The Surgical Strike," released on January 11, 2019, is a war drama based on the 2016 Indian Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Kashmir, conducted in retaliation for a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri. Vicky Kaushal starred as Major Vihaan Singh Shergill, who leads the daring mission in the film's fictionalized version. Dhar and Kaushal both received National Awards for their work on the film.
Vicky Kaushal also expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking Dhar for the opportunity to work in the film. "January 11, 2019. @adityadharfilms changed my life forever," Kaushal wrote while resharing Dhar's Instagram story. "Forever grateful to you @adityadharfilms for having faith in me... @ronnie.screwvala @soniyeh22 for making it all happen and to the audience for celebrating it the way they did. #URI will always be super super special for a million reasons".
Dhar has since directed "Dhurandhar," which has become one of the highest-grossing films in Indian cinema, exceeding ₹800 crore in India. The spy thriller stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role. The second part is slated for release on March 19. His wife, actress Yami Gautam, has expressed her pride in Aditya's journey, acknowledging the significance of "Uri" in his career.
