Director Rahul Dholakia, along with actors Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi, and Saiyami Kher, recently discussed their upcoming film Agni in an interview. Dholakia shared his inspiration behind the project, noting, “We rarely consider firefighters in our daily lives. But when you travel abroad, you realize the immense respect and value they receive. Diving deeper into their world, meeting them, and understanding their unique way of life, I discovered it’s an extraordinary and underappreciated profession. I thought it would make a compelling story, both cinematically and as a human drama.”
Saiyami Kher, who plays an investigative officer in the film, reflected on her experience working on Agni. “I wasn’t aware of the limited representation of female firefighters, so that was my starting point. I found the process of becoming a firefighter to be very scientific, and the small details we explored were fascinating. The physical drills we did were also an enriching experience,” she said.
Produced by Excel Entertainment, Agni also stars Sai Tamhankar, Jitendra Joshi, Udit Arora, and Kabir Shah in key roles. Divyenndu emphasized the lack of recognition for firefighters, saying, “They’re not seen as heroes. We often think of them simply as workers—people who come, do their job, and move on. But for those who work tirelessly to protect us, respect and awareness of their contribution are essential.”
Pratik Gandhi, who underwent extensive physical training with real firefighters for his role, shared his insights: “We spent a lot of time with firefighters, learning about their work and listening to their stories. It’s incredible how these people perform such extraordinary tasks for society with little recognition. Despite this, their passion for the job is inspiring.”
Agni is set to premiere on Prime Video on December 6.