Filmmaker Aanand L Rai on why he is in love with his leading man, Shah Rukh Khan, and how his creative process makes him vulnerable
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 24, 2016)

Two years after his Tanu Weds Manu (2011) set the cash registers ringing, producer-director-writer Aanand L Rai resurfaced with his Dhanush- Sonam Kapoor starrer, Raanjhanaa, following up with the Tanu-Manu sequel two years later. His next is a "seed that has just been planted". Featuring Shah Rukh Khan, the yet-untitled project which, by Rai's own admission, is an extremely difficult film, both emotionally and technically. "Shah Rukh plays a dwarf and it is going to be a lot of hard work and patience," the filmmaker informs Mirror, adding that it usually takes him twothree years to complete a film and this one is also going to take time "It can also be attributed to my laziness," he jokes.

The film is a full-fledged love story or as Rai describes it, "a family entertainer with lots of romance". Prod him on the cast and he quips, "Someone great once said that there are no bad actors, only bad directors', and I believe that. My films should bring out the unsaid conversations and interactions between characters. In Raanjhanaa, everyone identified with Dhanush's character, Kundan, a lovelorn boy while in Tanu Weds Manu Returns, we explored Kangana's (Ranaut) Datto, a woman with lots of grey shades. My next explores these unique exchanges of love as well."

Himanshu Sharma, his co-writer and he are currently scripting the film. Ask him about his leading man and Rai gushes, "Meeting the man makes you believe that nothing can beat experience! He has seen life not just as an actor but also as a person. He is large-hearted, intelligent and has a great understanding of human beings. I am in love with him."

It's the story of a man who is just three-feet-one-inch tall. "Nobody understands ordinariness better than Mr Khan. I'm looking forward to seeing him in the dwarf avatar," he says.

Ask him how he deals with scepticism around his choice of actor and Rai says, "My problem with the creative process is that it grows into something extremely personal, it makes me vulnerable. I like my story to breathe. In return, I trust people and I think I have won their trust."

Point out that his last release, the Swara Bhaskar-starrer Nil Battey Sannata was a critical success but didn't really make much money at the box office, and the filmmaker says curtly, "That's not true. It has done brilliantly commercially and was a heart-warming experience for everybody. At 45 years, after 10-12 films and 23 years in the industry, I have realised that we cannot cheat viewers."

Meanwhile, Rai is producing Manmarziyan, which reunites Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar and he has replaced original director Sameer Sharma after a month with Nil Battey Sannata helmer Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari taking over next month. "Four right people with a right script can't assure a great film. When a film is not shaping up according to plans, it is best to repair than regret later. Sameer is a dear friend, I trust and love him and I will work with him on another film soon. We are planning something together," Rai explains.

Apart from another production slated to release later this year, Happy Bhaag Jayegi, featuring Abhay Deol, Diana Penty and Ali Fazal, Rai is also re-uniting with his Raanjhana actor Dhanush, but only for a special appearance in the upcoming, Nimmo which revolves around a young boy. "This film is an experiment as I want to emotionally exploit a delicate topic. It is a small budget film with a large heart," he smiles. And what about Tanu Weds Manu 3? "If I have a story, I will write a script and make the film. There is no story right now," he signs off.