Aditya Dhar's debut: Romance with Fawad & Katrina shelved for Uri

• Aditya Dhar's intended directorial debut was a romance drama, "Raat Baaki," starring Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif.
• "Raat Baaki" was shelved due to geopolitical events following the 2016 Uri terror attack and the ban on Pakistani artists.
• The Uri terror attack and subsequent surgical strikes inspired Dhar's next project, "Uri: The Surgical Strike."
• Dhar meticulously crafted the "Uri" script over a year, with military consultation and approval.
• "Uri: The Surgical Strike" was a 2019 blockbuster that earned National Awards for Dhar and Vicky Kaushal.

Why It Matters: Geopolitical shifts unexpectedly forged a director's iconic debut film.