Dhaval Jajal

Why this film

“Hold On” is a climbing film I had been sitting with for months. Not just as an idea, but as a feeling I couldn’t quite shake off.

This film is about rock climbers, what pulls them back to the wall, what keeps them there when things don’t go their way. It’s about failure, persistence, and that quiet, stubborn act of holding on.

Zonal and the Grey Chair

At the heart of the film is @zonal__r_k and his long-standing relationship with a route called Grey Chair.
This wasn’t just another climb for him. It was unfinished business.

I wanted to capture his journey to explore something deeper: how a route can get into your head, how it starts shaping your thoughts, your approach, even your sense of self. You’ll see him struggle, recalibrate, and eventually find his way.

Two days in Badami

We had just two days to bring this to life. We chose Badami, one of India’s most iconic climbing destinations, but the route itself was tucked away deep inside, away from the dramatic golden-hour light that filmmakers often rely on.

Shooting while climbing

Filming a climbing sequence is a different kind of challenge altogether.

You’re not just behind the camera, you’re part of the environment. Suspended 90 feet above the ground, constantly adjusting your body, your balance, your frame… It’s physically demanding in ways I hadn’t fully anticipated.

No amount of planning quite prepares you for that.

There’s a certain vulnerability in that space. You’re focused on safety, on movement, on getting the shot, all at once. And yet, in between all that, there are moments of stillness where everything just aligns. Those are the moments you chase.

This film is my first attempt at understanding that world.

There’s a lot I’m still learning. But that’s also what made this process exciting. It forced me to listen more, observe closely, and trust the story as it unfolded in front of me.

“Hold On” isn’t a perfect film. But it’s an honest one.

And for me, this feels like the start of exploring climbing stories more deeply.

A big thank you to @ravi and @kysii_walter for helping me prepare to shoot on the wall.

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