Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, the Indian writer and filmmaker and wife of actor Ayushmann Khurrana, is debuting as a feature film director with the upcoming Hindi film, Sharmaji Ki Beti, starring Divya Dutta, Sakshi Tanwar and Saiyami Kher.
The makers of the film, Applause Entertainment and Ellipsis Entertainment, announced the film on Twitter on Thursday.
“Sharmaji Ki Beti, a warm and real peek into the lives of urban women with the common surname of Sharma, is a relatable multi-generational ensemble comedy-drama about the modern, middle-class female experience,” said a press release issued by the makers, who also called it “the perfect antidote to the default male gaze that dominates popular cinema.”
According to the press release, the film will touch upon themes of aspirations, fantasies, families, inadequacies, coming of age, and heartbreak. “The film, while true to India, also promises to resonate with Gen Z (people born between 1997-2012), Millenials (those born between 1981-1996) and Boomers (people born between 1946-1964) across the world, represented by the various Sharmas in the film,” the makers added.
Kashyap has previously directed short films, including Toffee that she wrote and co-produced with her husband Khurrana; two episodes in the recently-out Netflix film Feels Like Ishq; and the episode Pinni in the Netflix film Zindagi InShorts (2020).
She was also featured in the Temporary Contemporary episode of the comedy television show Break A Leg (2020).
Also a writer, Kashyap has authored several books, including The 12 Commandments of Being a Woman, Cracking The Code, Souled Out, I Promise, and Be Atmanirbhar.
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Sharing her excitement about her upcoming feature film debut, Kashyap tweeted, “Can’t believe it’s finally happening. Gratitude to all those people who are bringing my dream, the story so close to my heart, to life. It’s too good to be true but I guess ‘winter always turns to spring’.”
Speaking about her character in Sharmaji Ki Beti, Kher, who has previously starred in films like Choked and Mirzya, tweeted, “Supremely excited because I’m playing a character who I would love to be off screen. A heartwarming, multi-generational story of sisterhood!”