Vidya’s Kahaani continues in Kolkata
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 30, 2014)

Two years ago, Vidya Balan's stunning performance concluded with her meeting her nemesis, avenging her husband's death, losing herself in a visarjan procession and bowing out of the Sujoy Ghosh directed Kahaani.

Two days from now, contrary to rumours that she's flying to Cape Town, the actress will return to Kolkata on the day of ashtami to enter a Durga puja pandal and flag off her next film, Hamari Adhuri Kahani. On Dusshera, she and Emraan Hashmi will join the immersion processions on the city's crowded roads overlooking the iconic Howrah Bridge as the film's director, Mohit Suri shoots the climax.

"We didn't plan Hamari Adhuri Kahani to take off from where Kahaani ended. Our film is being shot in the US, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and India. But Emraan's character is from Kolkata which is why we decided to start there," says Mohit. "Also Vidya's character has shades of Sita, Radha and Durga."

While most love stories end with the couple getting married, this one is about finding a soulmate after marriage. "There's nothing carnal in it and nor is it a story from another time. Even today, many women don't get the privilege of marriage, which is love," reasons Mohit.

He admits that he has never seen a marriage from close quarters despite his father remarrying after he lost his mother as a child.

"It was only after I finished Aashiqui 2 and suddenly decided to marry Udita (Goswami) that I understood what the relationship is about. Today, we are waiting for our first child, who was not even conceived when I greenlit this project."

The love triangle does not stem from his own life but is close enough for him to connect with it. It's the love story of his uncle, Mahesh Bhatt's parents, Nanabhai Bhatt and Shirin, and his stepmom.

"The latter was the legally wedded wife but understood that her husband's heart belonged to another woman and after his death, insisted his funeral procession should start from Shirin's house. Rajkummar Rao who plays the husband in my film will tell this love story which needs another person to complete it."

While Mohit was filming Ek Villain, his uncle penned this story all alone. "He wrote in Hindi, because he wanted the values to be very Indian," says Mohit.