After Yaariyan that received a mixed response (panned by the critics, but minted money at the box office), director Divya Khosla Kumar is back with her second offering, Sanam Re.
After Yaariyan that received a mixed response (panned by the critics, but minted money at the box office), director Divya Khosla Kumar is back with her second offering, Sanam Re. A romantic story, she says it’s very different from her debut. “Sanam Re is poles apart from Yaariyan, which was a teen-romance. It has a different story line all together. I am not going to disclose all the details of the movie, as there will be no fun and curiosity left but all I will say is that Sanam Re is essentially a beautiful love story of Aakash and Shruti (played by Pulkit Samrat and Yami Gautam), which started in their childhood but due to their innocence they were unaware of of it. It’s how destiny pulls them together in the end. The intensity of the characters and love is upped a notch as compared to teenage romances.”
Talking about the casting of the film she adds, “I always wanted someone with deep set emotions and expressive eyes, and I saw that in Pulkit. He has the depth that I had not seen in anyone else and that depth is relayed on screen as well. He is an introvert and brings the character alive. Yami on the other hand was always the first choice for her exuberance and 100-watt smile. Her expressions and entire persona warms up the frame she is in. Urvashi also is a young, fresh boost of energy and looks amazing. Her liveliness, figure and total outlook was perfect for the role.”
One of the few female directors in the fray, Divya believes that it’s a matter of time before the industry embraces many more like her. “Our industry has seen the emergence of some critically and commercially appreciated female directors in the last few years. The scenario is bound to change further as it is a progressive industry and they are extremely open to accepting changes—be it in terms of the story of films, the fact that there are more heroine-dominated films now or more female directors. I faced a lot of difficulty and opposition at the start, but I wanted to channelise my creative skills as well as grow as a person, so I eagerly went ahead with it. I feel that more women should turn directors, as they are more sensitive and expressive than men — that’s a crucial factor in being a good director.”
Coming back to her second big release she continues, “The grandeur of Sanam Re is now sinking in, and I am eagerly awaiting everybody’s reactions to it. I don’t think a musical love story can get any more perfect with the combination of Arijit Singh and Amaal Malik.”
