Ihana Dhillon on Je Paisa Bolda Hunda: “Handling acting and production together was challenging” – EXCLUSIVE!

Actress Ihana Dhillon is happy that her film Je Paisa Bolda Hunda is doing well at the Box Office. She is thrilled that her performance is being appreciated by the audience. With Je Paisa… Ihana turned a producer too. In conversation with Cine Blitz, the actress-producer talks about her film, her dual responsibilities, her take on money, and her plans for the future.

What about Je Paisa Bolda Hunda appealed to you the most?

Ihana Dhillon: Money is important for everyone. Because we have to survive in this world. But there are times when you get too much money and that creates chaos in your life. Your lifestyle changes. You keep on expanding. Money doesn’t stay in one place. It is fluid. A lot of families get into disputes because of money. If you have money, you should not spoil the relations with your loved ones. That’s what we have tried to show – relationships are more important than money.

What did you like about Rani – the character you play in the film? What is unique about Rani?

Ihana Dhillon: Rani is a very simple girl, coming from a poor background. What I liked about Rani was that just like me, she’s from a village in Punjab. There were so many girls like Rani during my childhood and I used to adore them and observe them. What I could connect with Rani was her body language, her talking style, and her thinking. She’s smart but not over-smart. She’s a very cute, innocent girl. When I heard the story, I got all the flashbacks of my childhood in the village.

At that time, it was all about getting an arranged marriage and adjusting in the in-law’s house. The movie also starts from there and how Rani tries to adjust. She’s in love with her husband but she cannot show her love because it’s an arranged marriage. So, those small, cute moments and her body language, her dialogue delivery, I could relate to that. And I felt that people in Punjab could relate to Rani’s character. I got a lot of compliments also for that. So, yeah, Rani’s character is very close to my heart.

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What were the challenges during the filming of Je Paisa Bolda Hunda?

Ihana Dhillon: It wasn’t difficult to play Rani’s character because, during pre-production, I spent a lot of time with my team on the story. The challenging part was the production part because I also served as a producer on the film. I am there in almost every scene in the film. So, handling two jobs – acting and production – was challenging. As an actor, you’re responsible for your performance only. But as a producer, you have to take care of other things too. So, I was occupied all the time. You have to learn patience and multitasking. As a producer, I was looking after the cast and crew. It was challenging but overall, the shoot went smoothly. All of us had a great time. We shot the whole film in 35 days.

What have been your most special reactions to Je Paisa Bolda Hunda?

Ihana Dhillon: We have received very positive reactions. People have liked the simplicity of the film. I got a lot of compliments for my performance, and I have done an amazing job. Some people didn’t recognize that it was indeed me in Rani’s character. It’s a great feeling for an actor when that happens. I am really happy being a first-time producer, we’re receiving positive feedback for the film.

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Why did you decide to become a producer?

Ihana Dhillon: I had been thinking about becoming a producer for quite some time. But I didn’t get the opportunity because I was busy with other things. But when I met with an accident I was bedridden for some time. During that time, I had to leave my ongoing projects in between. I am a workaholic. I didn’t know what to do with the free time that I had suddenly.

I think during that time I started thinking again about becoming a producer. When the story of Je Paisa Bolda Hunda came to me, it wasn’t in my plan to act in it. But when I heard the story and the character I as well as my director felt that I should do this role. Despite coming from the Punjabi film industry, I hadn’t played such a Desi character ever. So, I thought of decided to play the character.

As a producer, I have a team that executes most of the things. But it is my habit to get involved in everything [chuckles] because I want to understand and learn. I learned a lot from this experience.

What is your take on money?

Ihana Dhillon: I live in Mumbai which is an expensive city. You need money for survival. Someone asked whether I regretted choosing any roles in my career. I don’t regret it. Sometimes, you take up projects because you have to pay the rent and other necessities that are part of an actor’s life.

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You have done a few Hindi films and web series. Do you want to do more Hindi projects or maintain a balance between Hindi and Punjabi projects?

Ihana Dhillon: To me, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Hindi film or a Punjabi film or a south Indian film. I might have only three scenes in a film but what matters to me is the character that I get to play and how much important does it have in the film. So far, I have liked the characters however small or big that I have got to play. I want to work in Hindi as well as Punjabi. It all depends on opportunities which sometimes are hard to find.

You have been part of films headlined by two Hindi superstars – Salman Khan (Radhe) and Ajay Devgn (Bhuj: The Pride of India). Please share some anecdotes of your working experience with them.

Ihana Dhillon: I didn’t have any scenes with Ajay Sir so I could never interact with him during the shoot. I have met him but have not spent time with him. I have been on sets with Salman Sir when we were shooting scenes but separately. These are legendary actors. You can learn even from your interactions with them. Whatever I have learned from them, I’m going to use that in my life and performances.

As an actor-producer, what kind of films do you want to see being made in Punjabi?

Ihana Dhillon: See, I’m going to work in all genres. We are working on a couple of more scripts. The Punjabi industry is growing. A lot of female-centric subjects are being made which did well at the Box Office too. We are happy that the audiences have started accepting new subjects. It allows us to explore more and the financiers and distributors also get inspired. Earlier, we relied on comedies more. Today, the audience wants good content irrespective of genre. Historical films are being made now in Punjabi. Punjab has a great history. And I would like to explore something historical sometime soon.