On Hold follows Umesh Shukla, a 40-year-old salesman, on the very day he is fired from his job. Thrown into sudden uncertainty, he finds himself caught in the relentless chaos of Mumbai—crowded local trains, the metro, traffic, and constant city noise.
Surrounded by this relentless noise and a series of back-to-back phone calls about mounting debt, strained relationships, and an uncertain future, he is pushed to his limits. As the day unfolds, each call reveals a new layer of his reality, deepening the pressure around him.
Caught between dignity and desperation, he struggles to hold himself together while trying to survive the city’s harsh, unyielding pace.
On Hold is the story of an ordinary man standing on the edge of collapse, yet trying to endure.
I am a filmmaker with over eleven years of experience in the Indian film industry, working across films, documentaries, and advertising. My journey began in 2013 as a trainee assistant director on Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, where I learned the fundamentals of large-scale filmmaking—discipline, collaboration, and precision.
For seven years, I worked as an assistant writer and director with filmmaker Sai Kabir, contributing to projects such as Tikku Weds Sheru (2023, Prime Video), Holy Cow (2022, Prime Video), and Bebas (2020, MX Player). These projects shaped my craft and gave me the opportunity to explore storytelling across genres and platforms.
In 2023, I directed *Autobiography of a Bus*, a short documentary exploring environmental themes. Its recognition strengthened my belief in cinema’s power to raise awareness and inspire meaningful change.
In 2024, I directed advertisements for Panchmahal Dairy (Gujarat) and also worked on campaigns for the Amul brand, blending cultural storytelling with brand identity and consumer connection. Alongside, I wrote scripts for documentaries covering various Gujarat government schemes and also directed and wrote a documentary for Gujarat’s Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav event, based on the Indian Constitution (Samvidhan), highlighting the cultural and social vision of the state.
From independent documentaries to mainstream films, streaming platforms, and brand campaigns, my work reflects a commitment to stories that engage audiences and leave an impact.
“On Hold” explores the quiet, internal struggles of a common man navigating life in a fast, unforgiving city. I was interested in capturing a moment where everything appears normal on the surface, yet internally, a person is slowly falling apart.
The film uses phone calls as a narrative device, reflecting how modern life is shaped by conversations driven by responsibility, pressure, and expectation. The chaos of Mumbai mirrors the protagonist’s inner turmoil, creating a contrast between the external noise and internal isolation.
Rather than offering resolution, the film leaves the audience with a question—what happens to those who fall behind in a world that never stops?
