Veteran film producer Dipa De Motwane passed away on Saturday, leaving behind a deeply influential legacy in Indian cinema.
The mother of acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, Dipa De was much more than a parent to a celebrated director, she was a respected producer, collaborator, and mentor who helped shape some of the most important films of the past two decades.
She began her journey in the film industry as an associate producer on Somnath Sen’s Leela (2002). Over the years, she worked behind the scenes on diverse projects, including Vishal Bhardwaj’s children’s horror comedy Makdee (2002) and Ashvin Kumar’s adventure film The Forest (2009), gradually building a reputation as a dependable and sensitive creative force.
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Who was Dipa De Motwane?
Dipa De Motwane was a seasoned film producer who played a key role in the rise of modern, content-driven Hindi cinema. Her most defining professional chapter began when she produced her son Vikramaditya Motwane’s debut film Udaan (2010), a landmark coming-of-age story that went on to gain international acclaim.
She later became a producer at Phantom Films, co-owned by Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl, and Madhu Mantena, contributing to popular films such as Lootera, Hasee Toh Phasee, NH10, Masaan, Trapped, and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero.
She also co-founded Andolan Films with her son, named after the 1951 film Andolan, the only film produced by her father-in-law. Under this banner, they backed projects like Netflix’s AK vs AK (2020) and Amazon Prime Video’s period drama Jubilee (2023).
Beyond her filmography, De was known for advocating safer and more organised work environments, especially for women. In a 2023 conversation, on the YouTube channel of Maitri by Amazon Prime Video, she candidly spoke about her early struggles as a single mother and outsider in a patriarchal industry. “I was an outsider coming into this industry… I had to say no to a lot of work because I felt it was not a safe environment for me,” she said.
That experience shaped her approach as a producer. “When I came in, I realized there were so many things that were lacking as far as women were concerned,” she noted, stressing the importance of safety, infrastructure, and dignity on film sets.
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The description on Dipa De Motwane's LinkedIn account states, “I have worked intensively on high quality, award winning projects that have been globally distributed during my 32 years with the Film and Television industry. Because of my vast experience on both big and small budget productions, i bring to the table a multitude of resources and strategies to increase efficiency, cost effectiveness, training and partnership initiatives(sic).”
Aditi Rao Hydari pays tribute
Actor Aditi Rao Hydari remembered her as a nurturing presence and guiding force, calling her a “champion producer” and “life of a set.”
She shares, "Feeder, scolder, nurturer with the largest heart, the warmest hugs and the time to listen. Inspiration 101.My darling Dipa aunty, I will miss you so so so much. Dipa De Motwane .”
Dipa De Motwane’s legacy lives on through the films she helped bring to life and the quieter systems she built to make the industry more humane.
