Getting Hyderabadi accent right was a big challenge, says Bolo Hau actress Jahnavi Dhanrajgir

Jahnavi Dhanrajgir, the daughter of director and yesteryear actor Tarun Dhanrajgir, is all set to make her acting debut under her father's direction in Bolo Hau (2021). Jahnavi began her journey in the film industry as an assistant editor on films such as Gunday (2014) and Kick (2014). She has also worked as an assistant director on Sultan (2015).

Talking about being in front of the camera, Jahnavi said, "I have always been behind the camera, leading on the edit table. Acting, though, has always had a very special place in my heart. I’ve been performing for as long as I can remember — much before editing came into my life — but I never really considered pursuing it professionally until recently. I was a little apprehensive at first but as time went by and I couldn’t shake off the desire to perform, I realized that if I didn’t give this a fair shot, I’d live to regret it. The outcome is irrelevant, we don’t know what may or may not happen, but we do owe it to ourselves to at least try. So, here I am, taking that chance and hoping for the best."

Bolo Hau is set in Hyderabad and will give the audience a taste of the milieu and distinct charm of the city. The film follows Salman (Rathi), the son of a small-time antique dealer, and Rukhsar (Jahnavi), who was born into a family of erstwhile nawabs but is now facing financial issues.

For Jahnavi, one of the biggest challenges was to get the Hyderabadi accent right. "Hyderabadi Urdu has a unique quality; I spent a lot of time interacting with and observing people in Hyderabad to correctly capture its nuances. I practised by talking to everyone I could find mouthing the accent," she said.

Janhavi also got help from her father and the film's script and dialogue writer Abid Shah, who would guide her during the shoot. Bolo Hau will be released in theatres early next year.