Inside Highway: Tata 407 Truck That Carried Alia Bhatt & Randeep Hooda

Highway, a story that revolves around a moving commercial vehicle and the bond forming between Mahabir (Randeep Hooda) and Veera (Alia Bhatt). As they travel on India’s highways, the truck becomes very important to the story. Director Imtiaz Ali shows the truck in a special way. The colors inside, the small space, and the camera angles all help tell the story. The truck is not just a vehicle, it feels like a part of the movie itself.

Truck as Narrative Space

Within the truck, Veera's first experience is of fear and containment. Metallic walls, dusky grey-green interior, and humming engine added to her discomfort. As Mahabir navigates environments, the truck becomes a container of connection. The movement of the Tata 407 replicates Veera's emotional journey. In desert roads, isolation highlights vulnerability. On mountain roads, interior shots register subtle comprehension and trust. Wide shots of highways mark freedom entering her life.

The filmmakers superimposed deliberate cinematic details:

• Color and lighting: Interior muted tones are contrasted with saturated exterior environments, visually embodying Veera's fear and eventual freedom.
• Cinematography: Wide shots capture the isolation of the truck; close interior shots expose the building trust between characters.
• Props and texture: Weathered dashboards, loose handles, and tossed items bring realism and emotional resonance.

The truck, thus, becomes a silent narrator, and through these aspects, the internal change of the characters unfolds simultaneously with physical movement.

Why the Tata 407?

Shooting Highway required a light-duty truck with the ability to traverse rough terrain, mountainous roads, and isolated desert highways. The Tata 407 provided reliability, durability, and flexibility. Its compact, rugged body enabled the crew to maneuver difficult locations without losing continuity.

The cab of the truck offered room for crew and cameras to capture intimate moments. Within, Mahabir and Veera's subtle movements and passing expressions could be filmed in close-up. Its small space reflected the story's psychological tension but created an opportunity for cinematography to probe intimacy and isolation at the same time.

How Do We Know It Was a Tata 407?

The most definitive confirmation is from cinematographer Anil Mehta, who, during an interview with WICA, clearly stated that the production utilized a Tata 407. In Mehta's opinion, the truck was specially prepared for use in shooting, making it capable of handling the pressures of continuous outdoor shooting while providing the camera team with the opportunity to shoot intimate scenes within the cabin.

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