Showing posts with label Saali Mohabbat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saali Mohabbat. Show all posts
Sanjay Chopra and I almost got divorced writing Saali Mohabbat-Tisca Chopra
9:44 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 17, 2025)
When Saali Mohabbat was shaping up, Tisca Chopra wanted to act in the film as well as direct it. Producer Manish Malhotra, however, urged her to choose only one role. After she committed to directing, she understood why he had advised so.
“Directing is a mother-of-God hard job. It just never ends,” laughs Chopra, who turned feature film director with the Zee5 movie.
“You start your day with a volley of questions. What should be the size of the car’s number plate? Should the actor shave his chest or not? If you don’t answer, they’ll think that you don’t know your mind. So, you just have to make a decision, even if it’s wrong. And then you make it the right decision.”
What helped was that Chopra knew the world of the Radhika Apte and Divyenndu-led murder mystery intimately. She had written the howdunnit with her husband Sanjay Chopra, a pilot.
Ask her the experience of co-writing with her husband, and she quips, “We almost got divorced writing it. His sense of writing is robust, mine is more subtle. So the yin and yang came together nicely in the script.”
Days after its release, the first-time feature director has only one grouse with Saali Mohabbat — that a word in one of its songs had to be dropped at the insistence of the internal legal team.
“We were told in the beginning [to drop it], but we still went ahead and recorded it. Then we had to dub it to something else,” says Chopra, unconvinced by the idea of censorship.
“I’m not a big fan of censorship. If at 18 years, you can choose a government, why can’t you choose what you want to watch?”
We need basics like punctuality and timely payments-Radhika Apte
9:31 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 12, 2025)
With Saali Mohabbat that premières today, Radhika Apte returns with yet another unconventional story. That is what the actor has continuously sought with her projects — be it the all-women drama, Parched (2015), or the black comedy, Monica O My Darling (2022).
“Creatively, we need to be more fearless. There’s this stupid notion floating around — yeh kaam nahin karega, woh karega — and it’s clearly not true. We need to stop fearing stories before we even tell them,” says the actor, in her signature candid style.
That’s not the only change she is hoping to see. Ask her about an immediate thing she’d change about the industry, and she says, “Work ethics. We need basics like punctuality, payments on time, lunch breaks, and proper shifts. Our business is so consuming that people barely have lives outside of it. That needs to shift.”
What doesn’t shift is Apte’s love for complex characters. In the Zee5 film, which also stars Divyenndu and marks the directorial debut of actor Tisca Chopra, Apte plays Smita, a homemaker who is the primary suspect in her husband’s murder. It isn’t lost on her that she is constantly drawn to morally ambiguous characters.
“You cannot judge your characters. You have to love every single one you play, and for that, you need tremendous empathy. Acting has made me more empathetic. You start looking at people with compassion. When someone says, ‘I did this,’ you instinctively ask, ‘Why?’”
It helped that Chopra had the answers to all her questions. “Tisca was to originally play her, so she had a connection with Smita. I came in from the outside. So, I scrutinized the character more, and Tisca was always on Smita’s side,” she laughs.
(Crisp) Movie Review: SAALI MOHABBAT by FENIL SETA
10:57 AM
Saali Mohabbat, which has released today on Zee5, is directed by Tisca Chopra, produced by Manish Malhotra and has an enticing star cast. The story has all the thrill elements and a few moments are quite riveting and dramatic. Sadly, the makers don't properly explain all the aspects. The way the culprit is able to commit the crime while the cops conduct a shoddy investigation is also unconvincing. There have been other films in this space that have turned out to be far better, and that's also where Saali Mohabbat lags. But Radhika Apte is superb and this time, she lets her silences do the talking. Divyenndu is entertaining as always. Anshumaan Pushkar, of 12th Fail fame, leaves a huge mark. Sauraseni Maitra (Shalu) has a fine screen presence. Sharat Saxena and Anurag Kashyap put up sincere performances, but are let down by the writing. All in all, Saali Mohabbat doesn't impress.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Anurag Kashyap reveals why he couldn't say no to Manish Malhotra for Saali Mohabbat
11:04 AM
Anurag Kashyap shares how saying no to designer Manish Malhotra’s production ‘Saali Mohabbat’ was out of the question, given their long friendship since ‘Satya’
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 6, 2025)
Saying no was out of the question when Saali Mohabbat came Anurag Kashyap’s way. After all, the Radhika Apte and Divyenndu-starrer was among the first few productions of designer Manish Malhotra, who is among his close friends. Couple that with the taut script of director Tisca Chopra’s howdunnit, and Kashyap was sold on the idea of featuring in a cameo.
“What drew me to Saali Mohabbat was, first and foremost, the script. I’ve also had a wonderful experience working with Tisca earlier on the short film Chhuri [2017]. So, the opportunity to collaborate again was an immediate yes,” he says. Then there was, of course, Malhotra.
“I’ve admired Manish since my first film Satya [1998], where he styled Urmila [Matondkar]. I have turned to him without hesitation whenever I’ve been unsure about what to wear for a major event. When he told me he was launching his production house and that Saali Mohabbat would be among his first films, there was no question of saying no.”
Kashyap, who enjoys his time in front of the camera as much as behind it, says sharing screen space with Divyenndu, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Sharat Saxena was a delight. But he has one minor grouse with the Zee5 movie.
“Unfortunately, I did not get to work with Radhika this time,” rues Kashyap, who directed her in Sacred Games and a short film in Lust Stories (2020).
I and my husband once boarded same Air India aircraft that later crashed at Ahmedabad-Tisca Chopra
9:39 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 23, 2025)
“This was long awaited,” says actor Tisca Chopra, who is marking her directorial debut with the film Saali Mohabbat that hits the screens later this year. She shares, “It has been on my bucket list as I enjoyed directing when I worked on a short film, Rubaru. Now, it’s been so satisfying to write and direct a story that is close to my heart.”
Speaking about the film, she says the scripting was finished just before the pandemic hit in 2020. “I wrote Saali Mohabbat back then, and I remember every time I narrated the script to a potential producer, I was told, ‘You have to direct this; you know it inside out’. This sentiment was echoed by Manish Malhotra (fashion designer) when I narrated the script to him. So here I am, a director, but my love for acting stays in place.”
While she is enjoying the new role, the last few days have been tough for Tisca, who had a close connect with the unfortunate Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad recently. “Some incidents leave an indelible mark,” she says, explaining how her husband, Captain Sanjay Chopra, a former pilot for Air India, had flown with the airline for many years.
She adds, “We both are still recovering from the shock. AI is dear to us. In fact, we once boarded the same aircraft that crashed. We and all our pilot friends are dealing with the loss and coping with the tragedy. Our hearts are heavy and we are praying for all those who lost their lives in the fatal accident.”
Anurag Kashyap has never directed me and that’s a big grouse I have with him-Tisca Chopra
3:37 PM
Tisca Chopra discusses societal perceptions of women’s strength through her directorial debut Saali Mohabbat which stars Radhika Apte, Divyenndu, and Anurag Kashyap
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 8, 2024)
As Saali Mohabbat premièred at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) last month, director Tisca Chopra felt two contradictory emotions. On the one hand, she felt validated as her maiden directorial feature received praise; on the other hand, she remembers being harsh to her own work throughout the screening.
“I am hyper critical. Even as an actor, while going back home after a shoot, I am redoing everything in my head. I think, ‘I should’ve done this or that.’ I’m trying to be less compulsive about things now,” she smiles.
In Saali Mohabbat, Chopra has brought an eclectic cast of Radhika Apte, Divyenndu and Anurag Kashyap. Considering Kashyap is a prolific filmmaker, did she take any advice from him? “Anurag would give suggestions as an actor, not as a director. For instance, he told me to stage a shot a certain way to save time. And we did,” she says, adding that she and Kashyap go back a long way.
“He has never directed me and that’s a big grouse I have with him. He is a no-filter human being and that makes a quality performer because he is receptive. He was on board even before Manish [Malhotra, producer] was attached to it. On my first day as a feature film director, I was directing Anurag Kashyap!”
The other joy she experienced was directing Apte, who was her first choice for the protagonist. Chopra shares, “I had two people in mind. Radhika was number one, and there was another actor. But Radhika said yes, so we didn’t go to the other person. Radhika is an actor extraordinaire.”
For the film, Chopra has crafted a thriller in which Apte’s protagonist narrates a story of infidelity to a group of guests at her home. Was bringing a female gaze to the theme of infidelity important to her? The director views it differently.
“Infidelity isn’t the centre of the story. It was more about taking certain roles for granted, like the doormat, the wallflower, the simple person, and so on. But when pushed against the wall, how far will a person go? Society perceives women as being weak. But I want to question it in this film.”
For many female actors across Bollywood and Hollywood, the decision to turn filmmaker stems from a lack of characters. But Chopra’s reason is simple. “A story needs to be told in its own way, not as per the market. The idea is to make a story best for itself and to make sure it’s cocooned without it becoming a bastard child. I will act in some films, and write, direct and produce others.”
Manish Malhotra's maiden production Saali Mohabbat to premiere at IFFI
3:05 PM
Couturier-turned-producer Manish Malhotra’s maiden movie, Saali Mohabbat, is to premiere at the International Film Festival of India in Goa this month
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 11, 2024)
As the year is nearing its end, it’s a new start for Manish Malhotra. The fashion designer is taking his maiden production, Saali Mohabbat, to the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The Radhika Apte, Divyenndu and Anurag Kashyap-led suspense drama, which marks actor Tisca Chopra’s foray into direction, will premiere at the film festival on November 22. Malhotra was scouting for a powerful story to venture into filmmaking, when Saali Mohabbat came his way.
“The moment I read its script, I was drawn to its intense and thrilling narrative. At Stage5 Production, we work closely with directors to bring their vision onto the screen with artistry and care. Tisca Chopra’s commitment to crafting this story with such complexity made it all the more compelling,” says the designer-turned-producer.
Jyoti Deshpande, President of Media and Content Business at Reliance Industries, shared her happiness on the news, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Manish Malhotra, who is bringing his creative brilliance from the world of fashion to film—a natural progression for a visionary who has always made impactful statements. With Saali Mohabbat, Manish extends his legacy of creativity, now crafting stories that captivate just as his designs have. Saali Mohabbat is a thrilling and layered story that aligns with our mission to present unique stories from India. We’re honored to debut this film at IFFI and reinforce our dedication to meaningful storytelling.”
In Saali Mohabbat, Apte plays a homemaker who is telling a story of infidelity, deceit and murder to a group of people. While her listeners are riveted, one of them gets the message she intended. First-time director Chopra is thrilled that her ‘howdunit’ is premiering at the prestigious film gala.
She says, “Saali Mohabbat is a story close to my heart, and I’m grateful to Manish Malhotra and Jio Studios for trusting in my vision and supporting my journey as a director. I couldn’t be more excited to present it at IFFI, which celebrates diverse and bold voices in cinema.”
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