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Tigmanshu Dhulia Says Jaya Bachchan Defused Threats During 2001 'Haasil' Shoot in Allahabad

The director’s 2026 recollection details organized pressure from former Allahabad University leaders over the film’s portrayal of campus politics.

Overview

  • Dhulia says he was summoned to the district magistrate’s office where 20–25 former Allahabad University presidents confronted him over an early scene.
  • He recounts threats to blacken his face, parade him on a donkey, and damage or set fire to the Yatri Hotel where the unit was staying.
  • He describes breaking down during the confrontation, noting it was his first film and the first major shoot in his hometown.
  • He says Jaya Bachchan intervened and enlisted Amar Singh, after which the confrontation was defused.
  • He adds that the team chose to omit explicit references to Allahabad in Haasil, and recalls that Manoj Bajpayee declined a key role later played by Irrfan Khan.