DNA (March 5, 2016)

Randeep Hooda finds love with the audiences, ironically, only with tough and edgy roles — Vishram Sawant’s D and Risk, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Kunal Deshmukh’s Jannat 2, and Imtiaz Ali’s Highway. All films where he plays the social outcast, shunned by all and running shy of romantic love.

And it’s not like he hasn’t tried. He has played the romantic lead in films like Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, Karma Confessions And Holi, Love Khichdi, Ru-ba-ru and Rang Rasiya, which have all been rejected by the audience.

Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, his attempt at a Valentine’s Day release encountered unexpected obstacles. Though complete, this story of a burnt-out boxer who fights one last time to return his sweetheart’s eyesight is stuck for want of release outlets.

While the team behind the project maintains that the film is not ready, sources in the know say otherwise. “The film was completed long back, but has no takers. Randeep Hooda in a romantic role and that too, with Kajal Aggarwal, whose career in Hindi cinema is at the most tentative, is not the sort of comforting box-office equation that the film business is looking for,” says the source.

Do Lafzon Ki Kahani was meant to be released for Valentine’s Day. It got pushed to March 4. And now that date, too, is postponed. Will the film ever get released?