Saiyaara has broken global records and won hearts over the past two weeks. The craze reached unprecedented levels, with people thronging the theatres, and the Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda-starrer transitioned from being a young love story to a phenomenon. On The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra this week, we got the captain of the ship, director Mohit Suri, to decode the film:

It feels good to receive this love. I have been spending time with my wife (Uditaa Goswami; actor) after the release, she’s been asking me to do household things (laughs). But I take some time for myself daily from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, as I get calls from all over the country. I’ve told her to just let me feel the love. It’s taken me 20 years to be here.

He has known me since I was a child, assisting on the sets of (Awara Paagal Deewana; 2002) with Vikram Bhatt (filmmaker). We tried to work together a couple of times, but things never fell into place. Even when Aashiqui 2 (2013) and Ek Villain (2014) had done well [he encouraged me]. He never lost faith in me. For him to come out there publicly... It’s something very few people do. What else can I ask for?

We were shooting the piano scene, when Vaani (Aneet’s character) gets Krish’s (Ahaan’s character) name wrong. The way Ahaan gave that shot, and the way Aneet spoke... that was the day. I turned to our creative producer (Sumana Ghosh) and said, “I don’t know about the fate of this film, but I know we are making a great one”. When Adi sir (Aditya Chopra, producer) saw the movie in its loosest form, he said, “No matter how much this opens at, it’s going to do at least Rs. 100 crore”. I was in class eight when I saw his movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) in the theatre. I said, “This is the kind of film I want to make someday”. For him to say this... that’s what an experienced producer should do. That’s when we felt we were making something special. While the collections are most welcome, this love is something I really wanted.

Bollywood actress Udita Goswami, who was seen in films like Paap, Aksar and Zeher, is now back in action; however, not on screen. She’s now a full-time deejay, and in a chat with us, she reveals how she was never happy facing the camera and has found her true calling. Udita says, “Love for music runs in the family. My brother works in the corporate world, but if you give him a guitar, he can become the life of a party. From a very young age, I enjoyed music, and it made me happy.”

Udita says, “I am quite sure that if I wasn’t an actress, I would have become a musician. I had forayed into music in 2012, and then I got married (to filmmaker Mohit Suri) in 2013. I was the deejay at one of my wedding parties, and my friend DJ Suketu, taught me more about music. I never did a course in acting, but I went through a course in music production!”

She shares, “In those days, many models were becoming actors. I was also modelling in Delhi when Pooja (Bhatt), who was looking for an actress in Paap, came to Delhi and offered me the film. Everything fell into place, and I became an actress. Acting is serious business, you need to be talented to act, and I felt that I was not cut out for it. Acting is not about looking good.”

Her passion for full-fledged deejaying took off after her kids were born. She says, “I decided to resume after my daughter Devi turned four, but in 2017, my son was born, and then again, I took a break for two years. Then the pandemic happened. Post that, I did a three-month intensive course in music and deejaying, and now I am doing one gig in a week. I have learnt it the hard way. It is now easier for me. I just go with the energy of the crowd about the choice of songs.”

Udita adds, “I don’t want to go for private parties, I want to play for college festivals, clubs and make it memorable for everyone. I often have this discussion with Mohit and say, ‘I wonder why I ever thought of becoming an actor?’ But he tells me that being an actor has somehow led me to this.”

There are not many female deejays in the country, and Udita shares how it is not easy because of safety reasons. “There are times when people get drunk. When that happens, I don’t oblige them with any pictures and make sure that my bouncers are around,” she says. But Udita feels people haven’t fully accepted her as a DJ.

She says, “It has been tough to get acceptance as a DJ. I am still facing resistance from people. I laugh out loud and tell those people to come to my gigs and see for themselves. I have practised in eateries post lunchtime when they were shut, or early in the mornings. I have worked hard at it.”

Trials and tribulations have the ability to make us realise our inner strength. As they say,when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Life dealt a heavy blow to Smilie Suri when her marriage with dancer Vineet Bangera hit a rocky patch. Adding to her emotional trauma and depression were health woes like PCOD and thyroid. However, rather than accepting defeat, the actress regained her grip on life with pole dance, and has now turned into a full-fledged trainer of the dance form.

She says, “I was battling depression when I found pole dance, and it has brought me a lot of emotional stability. I don’t feel the need for anyone to back me up anymore. Of course, I still have days when I cry myself to sleep, but all that it takes to wipe away my blues is one student sharing how confident and independent she feels after learning it.”

Smilie’s tryst with pole dance began by chance, after her aerial dance class got cancelled one day. She recalls, “It made me feel sexy and empowered; my weight no longer bothered me. I liked it so much that I decided to pursue it professionally. I even underwent a seven-week training program in Singapore, in pole, chair and static pole dance. That experience changed me completely — it was like finding a parallel universe. Till then, I was mostly surrounded by boys (brother Mohit Suri and cousin Emraan Hashmi), but all my classmates there were girls. I found sisterhood, feminine energy and became a girl again.”

Pole dance is often looked down upon, as it is associated with strippers. Smilie clarifies, “Both Bollywood and Hollywood are responsible for stereotyping it. Pole dance involves a lot of balancing, hand and head stands. It was done by strippers, but it has become a sport now. The need of the hour is to practice it like a sport and get fit. And what’s wrong with feeling sexy? Ours is the land of Kamasutra. In my academy, I teach Bolly pole as every girl likes dancing to Bollywood numbers. The idea came about after my sister-in-law (Udita Goswami) insisted that I teach her pole dance to a Bollywood number.”

Interestingly, Smilie’s family too was averse to her learning it in the beginning. She reveals, “My family thought that I had gone cuckoo, but eventually, they came around. Mohit and Emraan told me to promote fitness through it and not pursue it as a dance — they probably must have been to bars and seen it (laughs). When I ran short of money and was starving in Singapore — I didn’t eat for a couple of days as I was saving up to buy a competition-grade pole — Mohit sent me money. Emraan also supported me emotionally, whenever I had a breakdown after eight-hour-long training sessions. Now, I plan to start a pole-conditioning class for men. I will start with my brothers, Mohit, Emraan, Kunal Deshmukh and Aditya Dutt.”

Her idea of love is being inspired by fairy tales, but he prefers rational about romance. She is emotional, while he is practical to a fault. They may be poles apart, but together, Shraddha Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor exude an effortless chemistry and camaraderie. In a candid chat with BT, the actor and his 'Half Girlfriend' talk about their upcoming film, the beauty of incomplete love stories and the complexities of modern relationships. Excerpts...

The title of your film is rather unconventional. So, what does the term 'half girlfriend' mean?
Arjun: I think Chetan Bhagat (whose book Half Girlfriend the film is based on) has cracked it perfectly. It's a term for relationships that don't culminate in anything definite. Sometimes, we may feel an emotional connect with people who don't end up as our partners. Not always do we give relationships a tag. Half girlfriend is not a frivolous term, it's an emotional one.
Shraddha: Sometimes, adverse situations cut short relationships; hence, the word 'half'.
Arjun: Incomplete relationships are sometimes beautiful. Painful, but bittersweet.

Is it difficult being friends with the person you are madly in love with?
Arjun: It's not easy, but how you deal with it also depends on your age. As we grow older, we don't want to lose those few who we rely upon emotionally. And so, we make peace with the fact that the other person doesn't reciprocate our feelings. In our film, both Madhav and Riya (Arjun and Shraddha's characters) have feelings for each other, but circumstances don't allow them to be together.
Shraddha: Some people can be friends with the object of their affection. It depends on the ability to deal with one's feelings.

Have you ever had a half girlfriend or boyfriend?
Arjun: Yes. And the film will resonate with many because most of us have been in that situation.
Shraddha: The best way to recover from that phase is by crying your heart out, spending time with yourself and turning to people you trust and love. It's alright to brood. You should face the hurt instead of trying to escape it. The more you try to escape heartbreak, the more it will haunt you.
Arjun: Our generation is afraid of dealing with their emotions. It's best to face it and not brush it aside. Or else, it might manifest in other ways. Relationships are complex. Making peace is difficult, but you have to give it an honest try.

Are you very emotional? Do you break down easily?
Arjun: I would love to cry, but it's not easy for me. There have been times when I've cried inside, but had a smile on my face. My sister (Anshula) often tells me that I should just let it out. Maybe it doesn't come naturally to me because from an early age, I've kept my feelings bottled up. Also, I would rather rationalize a situation than get emotional about it.
Shraddha: There are times when I feel the need for a good cry, but I am not able to do so. Crying can be cathartic and refreshing at the same time. I recommend it to everyone.

Why do you think modern relationships are becoming so complex?
Arjun: Relationships have always been complex. It's just that the complexities are more visible today. Earlier, the problems were hidden behind closed doors, but now, they are out in the open. While we have acknowledged the problem, we don't have a solution. There is awareness, but no answer.
Shraddha: Yes, relationships have always been complicated, it's just that the reasons have changed over the years. For example, earlier, some parents would lock up the girl to stop her from meeting her lover. That may not be happening today.
Arjun: I am sure it still does, in some places at least.

Do you think that today, love has changed from being unconditional to convenient?
Arjun: We were talking about it recently, and Mohit (Suri, director) mused that true love does stay. He talked about how, after several upheavals, he had realised that Udita (Goswami, his wife) was the one for him. I don't have a PhD in love, but I agree that the younger generation is a tad impatient and inconsistent when it comes to relationships. Having said that, there are enough examples to prove that there is pure love as well, which helps you sail through trials and tribulations. There are people willing to work things out and not just walk away.
Shraddha: Nowadays, people think a lot about themselves and so, the threshold for tolerance has reduced. Walking away becomes an easier option.
Arjun: Sometimes, realisation that it wasn't love to begin with strikes and you fall out of it. It's human tendency.
Shraddha: The very thought of falling out of love with the person I want to spend my life with frightens me. I have a fairy tale idea of love.

The title of your film suggests, 'friend se zyada, girlfriend se kam...' Do you think women may object to it?
Arjun: No, I am sure that the film will not offend anyone. Even if someone raises an objection, we will respect their opinion.
Shraddha: Chetan wrote it from the girl's perspective. According to the story, Riya asks Madhav to accept her as his half girlfriend.

Talking about women's perspective, Arjun, you have been particularly close to the women in your family. What's your view on feminism?
The most beautiful aspect of our democracy is that everybody is entitled to their opinion, but nobody should enforce their views on others. We should agree to disagree. However, thanks to the social media culture, the paraphernalia surrounding an issue gets so much attention sometimes that the actual point is lost. While giving opinions, one forgets the topic. A point of view should be expressed for the benefit of the society, not to get noticed or be heard because that's how negativity breeds. I am all for equality and I also believe that women are more powerful than men in many ways. They are the nurturers, and they possess the beautiful ability to give while men, unfortunately, are takers by nature. I believe that women should be able to make choices freely and independently, just like men.

Is equality something that we only preach and not practise?
Arjun: It is used selectively. For me, equality is about respecting women, which doesn't happen too often in our country. We have to tackle that first. Can you believe that even today, there are many schools where girls don't have access to toilets? Shouldn't we have co-ed schools in villages too, where girls and boys can study together? We cannot scream about bringing a change without addressing inequality at the grass-roots level.
Shraddha: Disparity is at its worst in remote parts of the country. Forget equality, many a time, women are treated inhumanely. Something needs to be done about that. We need to respect each other irrespective of our gender.

In the film, Riya comes from a dysfunctional family. Arjun, your parents separated when you were really young. Having grown up in a broken family, could you connect with the character more?
Arjun: I have never used that term to describe my life. Yes, life is complicated and mine has been hard, but in a different way. So, I couldn't relate to Riya's dysfunctional family .
Shraddha: Dysfunctionality is not just about a failed marriage or parents getting divorced. It is more about a family that lives in toxicity and lacks communication.

On a lighter note, Arjun mimics a lot of actors. Shraddha, did he mimic your father (Shakti Kapoor) on the sets?
Shraddha: He did, but by accident. Instead of saying 'ouch', he once said 'aaoo' (a la Shakti Kapoor). Arjun, you didn't even realise you did it (laughs).
Arjun: Yes, I stamped on her foot and said, 'Aaoo' (imitates Shakti).

A lot of young actors are quite vocal on social media. Though you both are out there, we don't see you doling out advice/opinion...
Arjun: I don't always check my social media accounts, especially when I am shooting. I don't ponder over each and everything happening on social media. Also, I don't always feel the need to share my opinion with the world because it can be misinterpreted. Social media can destroy your thought process if you give it too much importance. You need to know when to walk away. If my opinion on social media could change the system, I would have put in way more effort, but it is bound to get lost amidst so many opinions.
Shraddha: I only use it when I feel like. I am not too attached to social media.

Filmmaker Mohit Suri may have the heart of a wanderer, but it doesn't overpower the quiet certainty of his mind. His confidence in desi stories and his craft doesn't necessarily roar, but he knows its worth. In many ways, he exudes the vulnerable and headstrong side of Madhav Jha, the lead character of his upcoming film Half Girlfriend (HG), which is based on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller. Mohit lets BT in on his innate vagabond sensibility that subconsciously inspires his intense emotional dramas...

It's common to bash Chetan Bhagat's books, but they continue to sell and inspire filmmakers...
There are not just literature students who write books, there are also storytellers who tell stories. For example, Buddha didn't speak in a divine language. He spoke Pali, which was the common man's tongue. It's not as if Chetan doesn't know what he is doing. I have read almost all his books and I could relate to them. Half our literary experts are inspired by foreign literature, so their stories are rarely about us. Even Indian filmmakers are inspired by Hollywood. We often aspire to be someone we are not, but Chetan has no such pretences. You can agree or disagree with his story, but you can't ignore it.

What made you adapt this book into a film?
I wanted to make a movie on Five Point Someone, but Chetan had already sold the rights to Rajkumar Hirani (3 Idiots, 2009). After Aashiqui 2 (2013), he suggested that we work together, and he felt that HG was the kind of story that I'll be able to do justice to.

HG is relevant to our times when English language has become a yardstick that defines class...
Even in Bollywood, actors who cannot speak Hindi are popular, but those who cannot speak English are considered low grade. You readily accept an NRI or a foreigner just because they are pretty, even if you need to dub their voice. If a French person speaks bad English with a French accent, you don't mind, but an Indian speaking English with a Hindi accent is unacceptable. We are still suffering from a colonial hangover. English is not just a language in India. It's amazing to see how people who have lived here all along flaunt American accent just because they've studied in the US for four years.

After 2 States, this is the second film based on Chetan Bhagat's book starring Arjun Kapoor. What made you choose him?
I have an emotional connect with Arjun. I don't look at him as the son of a popular Bollywood producer, but as someone who has been brought up by an independent single mother. I have seen his hardships - his battle to lose weight and doing things that people said he could never do. Madhav Jha, his character in the film, is a lot like that, too. Speak to Arjun about his past relationships and he'll say, 'Dude, do you see how I used to look? Do you think I got any girls, ever?' He doesn't say it with bitterness, but humour. All these things added up to who Madhav is. Also, I cast Shraddha in Aashiqui 2 because I remember seeing her with oil in her hair, talking to her bai in Marathi. I like people who are not Bollywoodised.

Your films are deeply emotional and often have an underlying tragedy...
I wonder how some people are always so happy. As much as happiness is a part of life, love is not just about being with someone at happy times. You love a person for his/her imperfections too and that's what Aashiqui 2 was for me. Awarapan (2007) was me questioning the existence of God. I let my thoughts reflect in my films.

So, you find them therapeutic?
Yes. However, in the case of Aashiqui 2, the film turned out to be a huge success, but I lost my father around that time. The one person I wanted to share my success with was not there, so it didn't matter to me anymore. I felt incomplete. So, even if I make a thriller now, it will be about a man in search of something.

Have Udita (wife) and your daughter changed your outlook towards life?
After having a daughter, I started respecting and valuing women more. Not that I didn't respect women before, but I couldn't express in words their contribution in my life. Madhav's character helped me change that. My real self bleeds into my films and I find closure after that. I lost my mother when I was really young. To see what Udita does for our child makes me fall in love with her all over again. It's heartwrenching to see what a mother does for her child and a daughter's love for her father.

Were you commitment phobic? Did you have any half girlfriends before marriage?
I was never commitment phobic, my problem was different. I was always in a relationship, I always had a woman in my life. Maybe it was my way of trying to compensate for not having a mother.

What do you like the most about Udita?
Udita lets me be. I am not an easy person to live with. I am obsessive about my work. The reason we have sustained this far is because of her. I have always felt that she is my soulmate despite the two of us having nothing in common. She is not passionate about films the way I am. While she is extremely family oriented, I am not since I didn't grow up with one. I didn't know what it's like to be surrounded by people with whom you are supposed to share a bond. My father was 35 and I was eight when my mother died; we were more like roommates. There were times when he had a girlfriend and I was also in love with someone and we'd share stories. There was a bond, but not the father-son kind. And, I used to work with my other family members (uncles Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt). So, that was also a professional relationship.

Did the failure of Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015) affect you a lot?
Failure affects me a lot, but I cannot be the person I am today without it. I don't mull over what went wrong. I blame myself as a director if a film doesn't do well. While I don't share my success with anyone, I don't share my failure either. Success doesn't feel really great, but lows feel really low. That's why I run away to the US for a month after my film's release. I live with my best friend in Chicago, as school friends don't let failure bog you down or success go to your head. Sometimes, if people love your film, they talk to you assuming that you are a good person (smiles). They judge you by your work, my friends don't.

Mohit Suri discusses his next love story, opens up about wife Udita's pregnancy, and talks figures

Mohit Suri has proved with Ek Villain that he can set the cash registers ringing even without the Bhatts. However, he returns to the family banner to wield the megaphone for cousin Emraan Hashmi's next with Vidya Balan. Excerpts from an interview:

You moved out of the Bhatt camp to prove a point. Do you feel validated after the recent hit?
True. I'm about to become a father, I have to be more responsible now. My wife Udita (Goswami) and I had a minor tiff and she left for a holiday alone. She was mountaineering, rafting and skydiving when she discovered that she was pregnant.

Son or daughter?
I want a daughter, Udita wants a son. If it's a boy, they will both gang up against me. (Smiles) I'm in a happy space.

Will your next film, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, be different from your usual style of filmmaking?
People tell me to ride on a safe ticket, I won't. Whenever I have listened to unsolicited advice I have made films like Crook. I was told not to make a dark love story like Aashiqui 2 because only happy love stories like Student Of The Year work. I still went ahead and made it, I love flirting with danger.

Doesn't flirting with danger come from your association with uncle Mahesh Bhatt?
(Laughs) I was not around when he was directing films.

But you know of his love for daring subjects?
I know that he wouldn't have chosen to make an Ek Villain, I don't think he liked that film much. After Ek Villain, the Bhatts wanted me to do a remake of Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin or Sadak but I stuck to Hamari Adhuri Kahani, a story waiting to be told. It's about a woman who finds love but sadly, after marriage.

So, Vidya has an extramarital affair?
Yeah, but you can love a person without being physically involved. The film has a lot of human values involved. Some people come and touch your life so strongly that you can't evict them from your system. You are too consumed with him/her and the eviction is just not easy. I'm like that. I get strongly attached to people without any reason.

Why Vidya?
You connect to her at a personal level when you talk about human values, she's perfect for the role.

Will she have to lose weight for the film?
She has to look attractive. She is anyway losing weight, get ting into shape. That's one of the reasons she is on a break.

Ek Villain may have worked well commercially but it had a major flaw...Aamna Shariff's role was not fleshed out.
The role was not fleshed out because I wanted to show that besides a nagging wife, Ritesh (Deshmukh) has a psychological problem too. Every man has a nagging wife, but does every man kill?

Buzz is, Karan Johar has offered you Rs 9 crore to direct the official remake of Intouchables.
(Laughs) How does Mirror get to know everything? But yeah, money is finally coming in. Sorry, I can't disclose the exact figure.

Mohit Suri is just 33 years old, but he has already made nine films seeing enough flops before his last two superhits. He is terrified of so many good things happening in his life together, be it his successful film, his sister Smiley's marriage and his wife Udita's pregnancy. Over a cup of coffee, excerpts from a conversation with the filmmaker:

You had told me that post the release of your film, you would plan a baby. Any plans?
Yes, Udita is expecting. This is her fourth month and the baby is due in January. She comes from Dehradun and still has those small town values, where she is not comfortable talking about it. Also, she feels afraid that too many good things are happening, so something will go wrong and I hope it doesn't come here. After Aashiqui 2, there has been a phase of change in my life. I was talking to her in the morning today and I feel that more than ever before I feel responsible, be it towards fatherhood or for the monies being put into a film being made by me. Earlier, it was just me living in a house doing everything on my own, where I didn't need too much money to survive. I was considered talented but not someone to reckon with. That has changed.
There was so much happening at the same time. My film's release, my sister's marriage and the most critical first three months of Udita's pregnancy. I felt like I had three releases at the same time.

Talk about your sister Smily and her bond with Emraan Hashmi.
Emraan organised half the things for her wedding, including her mehendi ceremony. She has grown up in his house, so she is like one sister between the both of us. If Emraan and I are fighting, she mediates between us. Emraan and I have grown up together and my mother practically was his mother.

Vidya Balan was always your choice for Hamari Adhuri Kahani. Had she ever said a no for the film?
Never. I am just 33 and have made nine films already. I was told nine years back when my films were not doing well that I should work with bigger stars and that time, too, I had said that whatever it is, I will be a star on my own. It has taken me nine years and nine films to prove that conviction. Most people don't make nine films in a lifetime. I have made a film a year to have this belief that we can do these numbers with the cast that I want.

Aashiqui 2 changed your life. Is it also your favourite film?
More than anything else, I like Aashiqui 2 the most as I put my voice in to that film. It was not a bag of skills, as the plot was very thin in it. I will have hit films and flop films, but India has liked me as a person, as I have put my personality into Aashiqui 2. That is what makes it special.

While Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur have never accepted their relationship, what is your view?
One thing I feel really happy about is seeing Aditya and Shraddha getting mobbed today. I saw the difference between shooting with her in Aashiqui 2 and now, both in Goa. I keep telling the both of them, 'I won't forgive you if you both don't do well and don't become stars. You owe this to me.' They have never admitted their relationship to me. But they were dating for sure. They are stupid and think that I am stupid also. But I love the both of them. And I have promised the both of them one thing that if they ever talk to me about the other person being wrong, I will in fact instigate their relationship to break up even more.

Who do you want to make happy in your life?
I suddenly look at Udita very differently now. This is the first film I have done outside the Bhatts. She has been the one constant throughout. She has been with me from my first film but I remember even before we got married, she told my aunt, 'It's easy to be with this boy over the weekend, but try and live with him for 10 years and bear with him.' I don't think I am the easiest guy to deal with. I am too involved with my work, I cry with it and I live with it. Sometimes, a woman wants to feel special and when you are making a movie only that is special for you. I don't have parents and her parents live in Delhi. Hats off to her for having lived alone here. She also gave up her career just for me. She is 30 and was sure that she wanted to have a baby. She handles my money and she is the most important person in my life. Thankfully, after nine films, I now have started making some money. I want to give her all the happiness.

She is someone who is so clear cut and is in love with Mohit Suri and not my films. She is not a fan of mine. I don't know what she likes about me as I keep asking her that but she thinks I am a fraud as I am not as romantic as my movies. I do know that she knows that I am not a quitter. I may have my limitations, but I will never desert her. I have never seen her throw up in her life. Normally, she is the one controlling me and is the stronger one, so I have never seen her like this before and I don't like to see her like this at all. I am taking her to London for a holiday this weekend.

I have not visited my school friends for over 10 years now. Udita is a practical person and she doesn't want me to hang out with just the filmi people. So, after my holiday with her, I will be going to visit my friends there. She knows the person I should be also along with the person who I am.

Do you miss your parents?
I lost my mom when I was eight, so I don't really have that many memories of her, but I lost my dad when I was 30 just before Murder 2 released. He never got to see my first successful film. Also, Udita and he were very good friends. So, I guess, this is the thing I hold on to. I have never been to a filmi party before where there are other known people coming there for me. I do miss him. I don't have bouts of laughter or anger after a hit film, but I always cry to celebrate my happiness.