Arhanić is a director and screenwriter who took a degree in art history in Zagreb. During his studies, he acted and directed in several student performances and films. He wrote screenplays for short feature films by Bogdan Žižić (Putovanje, Šala, Nož), and with Davorin Stipetić he co-wrote the feature film Jedanaesta zapovijed (1970) by Vanča Kljaković. He made his feature film debut with Poslijepodne jednog fazana (1972), which won the jury’s diploma and the award for the best debutant at the Pula film festival. His second film Letači velikog neba (Fliers of the Open Skies, 1977) won award at film festivals in Paris (first prize) and Avellin.