Hungama Play, a leading OTT platform owned by Hungama Digital Media, today launched its latest Hindi original show, Dhappa. Headlining the anthology is an ensemble cast led by TV and film actors such as Monalisa, Jay Bhanushali, Abigail Pande, Krissann Barretto, Vishal Singh, Sanam Johar, Smriti Khanna, Abhishek Kapur, Samridh Bawa, Dishank Arora, Sakshi Sharma, Varunn Jain and Mohit Duseja. Dhappa has five unique love stories, each with a peculiar twist and hints of comedy and drama.
Love is pure and eternal, but not all stories of romance are smooth, especially those that come with their share of suspicious glares and are often turned into juicy gossip. Dhappa is a collection of five such stories of romance.
Whether it is a couple struggling to buy contraceptives in a town where everyone knows everyone, a professor being friends with her young student, a bride-to-be who conceives a little earlier, than expected, or two friends who are being forced by their families to tie the knot, a sudden funeral disturbing the plan of a couple planning to enjoy their wedding night before the actual night, these couples try their best to save their relationship from the prying eyes of their relatives and neighbors.
Only time will tell if they will succeed, or not. Watch the show to find out how they dodge every obstacle to save their love life. Speaking about the show, Siddhartha Roy, COO, Hungama Digital Media said, “We believe in experimenting with good stories and performances that viewers enjoy. Over the years, we have been able to create a library of original content that has received global appreciation. Local, relevant and entertaining tales, sometimes driving home a message and makes the cut. Dhappa is one such collection of stories.
The genres of comedy and romance when brought together always enkindle a tickle in the heart, bring back memories and a smile on the face. The anthology also sparks a discussion around the stigmas faced by couples in society with a touch of light-hearted content. We hope the audience will enjoy it.”
Actor Monalisa, on her part, adds, “It feels wonderful to be a part of Dhappa. The fact that couples in smaller towns face a lot of stigmas to stay close to each other is a revelation for sure. Their love life is much like the hide and seek game. My character, Mira is a young at heart woman who is somewhat trapped in the mundane married life. She wants the love and attention of her husband and what entails further is something which every viewer will enjoy while watching the series. I feel there are a lot of Miras out there and we want to reach out to all of them through this simple and engaging story. I hope that the audience will enjoy watching her, yet at the same time understand the issue and how it could be addressed.”
Versatile Actor Jay Bhanushali shares, “I’ve always wondered and been amazed at how couples in small towns of India court and date each other, and I’m glad to have got the chance to live this experience with Dhappa. The love stories are interesting, funny and have that undertone of unnecessary struggle even though one is not committing a crime.”
Smriti Khanna comments, “The digital medium has offered performers and storytellers a platform to experiment with different styles of storytelling and acting. Dhappa is a culmination of small town stories of love with an interesting element of fun. I hope that the audience will share a hearty laugh and experience, yet at the same time understand the stigmas and how they could be addressed.” Abhishek Kapur says, “Dhappa reminds us of our childhood days, when we enjoyed playing hide-and-seek.
While those games were played just for fun, the version of the same game that these young couples indulge in is out of compulsion to save themselves from prying eyes of their relatives and neighbours. I’m sure audiences will thoroughly enjoy these stories.”
Celebrated dancer and artist, Sanam Johar shares, “I am overjoyed to be a part of the series through which I could relive my love for Abigail but with a new twist. Dhappa is a collection of pure , kind-hearted, and innocent love stories that takes you to the small towns of the country. I can’t wait for the audience to watch the show and shower us with their love on these five adorable stories.”
Adding to the same, Abigail Pande commented, “This is my second stint with Hungama Play and it is even more exciting with Sanam as my co-star. Each story in the show captures the essence of romance in a small town city and I am glad through the show we are able to showcase the same, connecting our audience with an innocent romance. I hope audiences enjoy our show as much as we enjoyed being a part of it.”
Says Vishal Singh, “Dhappa is a unique show that showcases the life of small town cities and their fights against the society as they navigate their way through love. Every episode takes the audience on a nostalgic trip to a small town or their childhood to celebrate the essence of small town life. It was wonderful to collaborate with the cast and crew of the show yet again for another exciting and different storytelling experience”.