Filmmaker Aanand L Rai says that box-office collections never impact his film choices. Rai, who celebrates his birthday today, admits that the constant change in audiences’ likes and dislikes keeps everyone “on their toes”.

He shares, “Every decade, there’s a change of audience and taste. As a filmmaker, you will face these obstacles. Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) got everything right. The audience loved Dhanush (actor) as the protagonist in Raanjhanaa (2013). This is a sign of changing times.”

Interestingly, Rai is looking forward to collaborating with Dhanush for the third time with his next directorial, Tere Ishk Mein. Earlier, they worked together in Raanjhanaa and Atrangi Re (2021).

Rai’s last release, Raksha Bandhan (2022), didn’t manage to impress moviegoers. Ask how he keeps himself motivated and starts afresh after a film fails to rake in the moolah, and the 52-year-old says, “I am a student. There will be times when my thesis will not get everything right. The only time my confidence can be broken is if I falter in my intention. I know my intentions were right, whether it was Zero (2018; the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer) or Raksha Bandhan. I scored brilliantly with Tanu Weds Manu Returns. My intentions were the same for all the projects.”

Aanand L Rai ushered in his 45th birthday on June 28 with Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Sidharth Malhotra at a suburban hotspot. The party started at 9.30 pm and spilled over into the afterhours. Early bird Bhushan Kumar was followed by Ali Fazal, Divya Dutta, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Huma Qureshi, who arrived with actor-brother Saqib Saleem.

“It was a reunion of sorts for several actors who have worked with the birthday boy. Kangana was engrossed in a long conversation with her Queen co star, Rajkummar Rao, and caught up with Tanu Weds Manu writer, Himanshu Sharma. She stayed on till Aanand cut the cake. Producer Sunil Lulla who also celebrated his birthday on June 29 joined him,“ informs a guest.

The King Khan's grand entrance post midnight set the ball rolling. He greeted the director of his upcoming film with a jadoo ki jhappi and was whisked off for a round of intros with his family. He also complimented Sidharth on his latest film, moving on to shake a leg with Swara Bhaskar and Kartik Aaryan to the tunes of “Chammak Challo“, “Jabra Fan“ and “Banno“, from Tanu Weds Manu Returns.

Sid who recently returned to Mumbai after a brief break in London with ladylove Alia Bhatt, played around with casting director Mukesh Chhabra's aviators. He also exchanged notes with Manish Paul on gym workouts and abs.

Happy Bhaag Jayegi co-stars Abhay Deol and Diana Penty were on a selfie-clicking spree with Aanand. Here's to more box-office hits than misses to the birthday boy!