For Harshvardhan Rane, Tara vs Bilal is a homecoming in some ways. The actor returns to the genre of romance six years after his debut Hindi film, Sanam Teri Kasam (2016). The movie’s underwhelming performance on its release wasn’t the start Rane had hoped for in Bollywood.

“It’s a shame that the film didn’t work when it was released. It was an uphill task to get work because Sanam Teri Kasam got appreciation much later, but the industry works on a Friday basis,” starts the actor.

Now, his hopes are pinned on the upcoming Tara Vs Bilal that centres on the lead characters who pretend to be in a relationship, only to develop feelings for each other. He says his character in director Samar Iqbal’s offering is his polar opposite. “Bilal is the laadla beta of the house; I have never been that. He lives with his relatives. As an actor, it was different to interact with a group of [seniors] belonging to the opposite gender. I worked on my body language for two months, with my acting teacher Saurabh Sachdeva. [Since the film is set in England], I have tried my best to sound more British. My producer John Abraham helped arrange for expensive diction coaching. I worked with my trainer Michelle for weeks.”

It was important to live up to the faith Abraham showed in Rane. The leading man says, “An actor can be assured that when John is the producer, the film will have quality. Thanks to T-Series, the movie has fantastic music. I am lucky to have their support.”