Management Student’s Film ‘KHAALI’ Selected at 16th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2026

What does it feel like to be surrounded by people, yet feel completely empty inside? It’s a question that resonates with many today.

This very emotion is brought to the fore in KHAALI (EMPTY), a feature film created by Ahmedabad University’s first-year MBA student, Hardik Soni. The film explores the inner world of Naveen, a 19-year-old introverted boy on a journey to find purpose and identity, laced with a lingering sense of emptiness despite the support around him.

Hardik’s film has already begun to make its mark on notable platforms. The film has been officially selected at the 16th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2026 in New Delhi. It has also won Best Indian Feature Film and Best Original Song at the Indian Independent Film Festival, earning a screening and a nomination for the Best of the Year awards. Additionally, the film’s music received a Bronze Medal at the Global Music Awards, USA.

Reflecting on his journey, Hardik shares, "The idea for KHAALI came to me while writing lyrics with a friend in July 2024. What started as a short film slowly unfolded into something much deeper and bigger. Over seven months, I wrote the film while preparing for the CAT and eventually took on five major roles, including direction, writing, producing, acting, and editing, despite having no prior experience. While it was difficult for the belief my parents and friends had in me made this film possible. I balanced post-production alongside my MBA. This journey has been as much about discovering myself as it has been about making the film."

Hardik’s story is a lesson in perseverance and the willingness to explore the unknown, values that resonate deeply with Ahmedabad University’s ethos of nurturing independent thinking and interdisciplinary exploration.