BAFTA Nominee Suraj Sharma Joins Iqbal Theba in Dramedy 'Days With Dandekar'
Variety has exclusively learned that BAFTA nominee Suraj Sharma, known for his breakout performance in Ang Lee's Oscar-winning 2012 film "Life of Pi", is starring alongside SAG Award winner Iqbal Theba in the upcoming dramedy "Days With Dandekar".
The ensemble cast also includes Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Summer Bishil and Ranjita Chakravarty, who bring to life a diverse array of characters that aid R.K. Dandekar's (played by Theba) existential journey after losing his 35-year job. Sharma will be seen in "This Tempting Madness" alongside Simone Ashley, while the project marks Bishil's next appearance on the big screen.
Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leena Pendharkar, "Days With Dandekar" follows Dandekar as he embarks on a voyage of self-discovery after his cherished 1989 Volvo is traded away by his well-meaning family. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Sam Jaeger, Gillian Vigman, and David Clennon.
Pendharkar drew inspiration from her father's post-retirement experiences, which form the basis of the screenplay that earned selection for Tribeca All Access and the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab. This summer, it received a Seed&Spark/Goldhouse grant, solidifying its production.
Principal photography has wrapped in Los Angeles, with Pendharkar previously helming "20 Weeks" and directing episodes of "Hello, Jack!". The project is set to be released soon, marking another notable collaboration for the talented cast.
Variety has exclusively learned that BAFTA nominee Suraj Sharma, known for his breakout performance in Ang Lee's Oscar-winning 2012 film "Life of Pi", is starring alongside SAG Award winner Iqbal Theba in the upcoming dramedy "Days With Dandekar".
The ensemble cast also includes Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Summer Bishil and Ranjita Chakravarty, who bring to life a diverse array of characters that aid R.K. Dandekar's (played by Theba) existential journey after losing his 35-year job. Sharma will be seen in "This Tempting Madness" alongside Simone Ashley, while the project marks Bishil's next appearance on the big screen.
Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leena Pendharkar, "Days With Dandekar" follows Dandekar as he embarks on a voyage of self-discovery after his cherished 1989 Volvo is traded away by his well-meaning family. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Sam Jaeger, Gillian Vigman, and David Clennon.
Pendharkar drew inspiration from her father's post-retirement experiences, which form the basis of the screenplay that earned selection for Tribeca All Access and the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab. This summer, it received a Seed&Spark/Goldhouse grant, solidifying its production.
Principal photography has wrapped in Los Angeles, with Pendharkar previously helming "20 Weeks" and directing episodes of "Hello, Jack!". The project is set to be released soon, marking another notable collaboration for the talented cast.
anyway back to this new dramedy 'days with dandekar' - sounds kinda quirky and i'm HERE for it. i mean, who wouldn't want to watch iqbal theba get his existential crisis on in a film? it's also pretty cool that leena pendharkar drew inspiration from her dad's experiences - that's some real-life storytelling right there 
i'm curious to see how the cast comes together and brings this story to life 
Suraj Sharma as a BAFTA nominee is like whoa, i love him in "Life of Pi" and now he's joining forces with Iqbal Theba on screen... that combo is giving me life 
the fact that Leena Pendharkar is directing this film, it's already looking so deep & emotional 
can't wait to see how R.K. Dandekar's character navigates his existential crisis after losing his 1989 Volvo 
& Simone Ashley as his love interest in "This Tempting Madness"... it sounds like a wild ride! 
let's get this movie out soon, i'm ready to vibe with the talented cast and Leena Pendharkar's direction 
suraj sharma in it is a game changer, he's proven himself to be such an amazing actor from life of pi to this tempting madness and now he's joining iqbal theba on this dramedy?? 
it's all about r.k. dandekar embarking on a journey of self-discovery after losing his job, i mean who hasn't been there right? 
the director leena pendharkar is amazing too, i've seen her work in 20 weeks and hello jack! and she drew inspiration from her dad's experiences which just adds to the authenticity of the movie 
. also, 35 year job loss? feels like something every single person has experienced at some point in their lives, so its kinda... relatable? i know its supposed to be an inspiring journey of self-discovery and all but honestly, id rather watch a film about actual struggles and triumphs rather than this light hearted vibe
But what if there's more to it? What if this film is actually a cleverly disguised propaganda piece? 
Maybe Sharma's character isn't just any ordinary guy, maybe he's a pawn in some larger game. And what about the fact that the director, Leena Pendharkar, has ties to...well, I don't know who, but it must be someone with connections to the elite 
! And have you seen the cast list? It's like they're all handpicked by a secret society or something. This film is just too suspicious for its own good 
.
I mean what's the premise of this film? some dude loses his car and has to figure out life? sounds kinda deep for a dramedy but also kinda relatable? 
Is it just another feel-good story about finding yourself in your 60s? 
Or is there something more to it? Should we keep an eye out for this one? 