Cinema VinesShashwat Dwivedi’s debut short film, Bobby Beauty Parlour, has just been unveiled to the public, and it carries a surprising stamp of approval from two of India’s most celebrated filmmakers. The film, which follows the final hours of childhood best friends Eelu and Manu in a small‑town beauty parlour, was presented by Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Kashyap, a pairing that the director described as “unbelievable.”
In a recent interview with the Hindustan Times, Dwivedi explained how the project came into being. He and co‑writer Janhavi Ashthana, who also produced and shot the film, had been collaborating since their time on Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy. Ashthana approached Dwivedi with a story centered on two female characters and a male antagonist who “was rather unpleasant.” Dwivedi admitted that he found the narrative compelling enough to rewrite the male role into an even more problematic figure, drawing on his own observations of male behaviour towards women. He said the story felt “very personal and true,” and that he and the actors, Adrija Sinha and Parul Rana, worked closely to shape their characters.
The film’s premise is simple yet poignant: the girls spend their last moments together in a local beauty parlour, reflecting on their small‑town aspirations and the impending changes in their lives. Dwivedi noted that the story’s emotional core lies in the bittersweet nature of friendship and the uncertainties of coming of age.
When asked how Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Kashyap became involved, Dwivedi recalled his admiration for Ali’s screenplays from his film school days. He praised Ali for creating commercially viable yet philosophically rich films, a quality he felt resonated with his own storytelling. The collaboration, he added, was a dream come true and a testament to the supportive film community in India.
Although Dwivedi has yet to discuss the project with Ali directly, he expressed excitement about the film’s release and the unexpected endorsement from such prominent directors. Bobby Beauty Parlour promises to be a tender, character‑driven piece that showcases the power of friendship against the backdrop of a small‑town setting.
