EXCLUSIVE: Aditya Dhar reveals how Raat Baaki with Fawad Khan-Katrina Kaif became Dhoom Dhaam

Dhoom Dhaam (2025), which was released on February 14 on Netflix, has received acclaim from all quarters. Backed by Aditya Dhar and directed by Rishab Seth, it is the story of a couple who are forced to be on the run on their wedding night. The story is intriguing and industry sources soon realized that it has an uncanny resemblance with Raat Baaki. It was supposed to be made way back in 2016 with Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif with Karan Johar as the producer. Moreover, it was also supposed to be Aditya Dhar’s directorial debut! Hence, is there a possibility that Dhoom Dhaam and Raat Baaki rest on the same plot?

Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Aditya Dhar and he confirmed this aspect. He told us, “That’s true. It’s the same story.” However, he added, “But we tweaked it a little bit. We made it contemporary and a story of today’s times.”

Back in 2016, Aditya Dhar was all geared up to take Raat Baaki on floors. But after the Pulwama attack took place, the film industry took a collective stand of not casting actors from across the border. There were reports that Fawad would be replaced but eventually, the film was put on the backburner. Aditya then made his directorial debut with Uri – The Surgical Strike (2019), which became a sleeper blockbuster.

In an interview with Mumbai Mirror in March 2019, Aditya Dhar said, “It was a romcom laced with action and while my office was trying to figure out whom to cast in place of Fawad, I was fascinated by the surgical strikes that took place 11 days later on September 29 and started my research on October 1.”

The Sima Taparia connection

We also asked Aditya Dhar about why Sima Taparia was thanked in the film. He said, “We shot a scene with her, which was supposed to be at the beginning of the film.”

Does she arrange the match between Veer (Pratik Gandhi) and Koyal (Yami Gautam Dhar)? He replied, “Yes. But we had to edit the scene out. However, she did become a part of the film in a way. She featured in the promotional campaign as she’s associated with Netflix.”

The streaming giant dropped a video 4 days before the film’s release which features the Indian Matchmaking star talking about the film’s lead characters and raising laughs.

Also Read: It’s a boy! Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar welcome first child; name him Vedavid