National Award-winning director Tushar Hiranandani and producer Nidhi Hiranandani have opened up about their journey as a married couple working together in cinema. In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, the duo revealed how constant disagreements during their first film led to a piece of advice from Anurag Kashyap that changed the way they collaborated.
1. Tushar And Nidhi Celebrate A National Award Win
Tushar Hiranandani and Nidhi Hiranandani recently celebrated a major milestone after Srikanth won the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The couple recalled finding out about the win while they were in Goa celebrating their birthday. Tushar initially thought the news was a dream, while Nidhi also took a few moments to realise that they had actually won.
2. Tushar’s Journey From Writer To Director
Before becoming a director, Tushar spent around 15 years working as a writer and had wanted to direct for several years.
His transition eventually came after he watched an episode of Satyamev Jayate featuring sharpshooters Chandro and Prakashi Tomar. The story inspired him to develop what eventually became Saand Ki Aankh, his directorial debut. Nidhi encouraged him to direct the project and also stepped in as its producer.
3. Nidhi Became A Key Creative Force
Tushar credits Nidhi with playing a major role in his transition to direction.
The couple work under their production banner, Chalk and Cheese, a name that reflects their contrasting personalities and creative approaches. Tushar said Nidhi has been instrumental in selecting subjects including Saand Ki Aankh and Srikanth.
4. Their First Film Together Came With Plenty Of Conflict
Working together as husband and wife was not immediately smooth.
Nidhi revealed that during Saand Ki Aankh, the couple argued frequently because they were still figuring out where one person’s creative responsibilities ended and the other’s began. Their professional and personal equations were overlapping, leading to several disagreements on set.
5. Anurag Kashyap Had A Simple Solution
The situation changed after Anurag Kashyap called the couple one day and offered some practical advice.
According to Nidhi, Kashyap suggested that when they were shooting together, they should stay in separate rooms. The idea was to give each other enough distance and space to think before coming back together to work.
Nidhi said the advice made a significant difference and helped them understand each other’s professional boundaries.
6. Three Films Later, They Know Their Territories
The couple said their working relationship has evolved significantly since their first film.
Tushar now focuses on direction, while Nidhi handles her own creative and production responsibilities. They continue to disagree and have arguments, but they said those disagreements are now kept away from the set and are understood as debates about the film rather than personal attacks.
7. The Duo Has Several Projects In The Pipeline
Tushar and Nidhi are currently developing multiple projects, including Ragda Pachhees, which is based on the first experimental batch of 25 women in the Indian Army.
They are also working on another project that is expected to be announced in October, along with additional films in development. Tushar also confirmed that they are exploring a comedy project, while their slate continues to focus on grounded stories with a move towards more commercial filmmaking.
KnowBuddys Take
Marriage + filmmaking + production sounds like a recipe for chaos.
For Tushar and Nidhi, the secret apparently wasn’t agreeing on everything. It was figuring out where not to interfere.
And somewhere between separate rooms, loud arguments and fighting for the film instead of fighting with each other, the Chalk and Cheese partnership found its rhythm.
Anurag Kashyap’s advice? Surprisingly simple. Surprisingly effective.
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