After giving a hit like Badrinath Ki Dulhania, director Shashank Khaitan is all excited about his next film Dhadak, an adaptation of a Marathi movie. He talks to Gurbani Singh about the film and his fascination for romantic drama
How was your experience of shooting for DhadakIJ
It was a great experience and I enjoyed working with both Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter. When I started interacting with them during workshops, I realised that there was no one better than them suited for the role.
Dhadak is a remake of the Marathi movie Sairat. What prompted you to work on thisIJ
It is about love which is a universal concept and revolves around honour killing. When I watched Sairat, I loved it and felt that it needs to be told for a larger audience. I also inculcated stories from Rajasthan that made headlines.
Most of your movies are about young romance. WhyIJ
I always do what inspires me the most. For the moment, young romance is doing just that. A lot of it comes from personal experience and from stories that I’ve heard. Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was inspired by DDlJ. Badrinath Ki Dulhania was based on women struggling to make their mark. I wanted to see what it would look like 20 years later, in today’s context.
Who from this generation do you think is going to be the king of romanceIJ
Shah Rukh’s shoes are too big to be filled. Everything today is changing, there are new trends. However, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt have great chemistry on screen and look great together. I hope Janhvi and Ishaan have the same kind of chemistry and look romantic in Dhadak.
What’s the biggest challenge when it comes to directing romantic moviesIJ
Writing new content and making sure that there is something that makes it different from the lot. Otherwise, all love stories will sound the same. As for direction, the main challenge is making it look interesting. Trying to find a new expression of love.
What made you pursue filmmakingIJ
I grew up watching movies and always knew I wanted to be a part of it. When I watched DDlJ, I found it magical. So, I learnt dancing, acting and then started assisting. I believed that life experiences aren’t enough, an education in the field is equally important so you know what you’re doing.
Which movie is close to your heart and whyIJ
It is hard to choose one film when you’ve put in so much work into all of them. They’re all like your babies. Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was special because it was my first film, Badrinath ki Dulhania was special because it gave me the freedom to express myself. Dhadak too is equally special.
What do you think about the evolving Marathi cinemaIJ
Marathi cinema is doing well. It’s a great source of inspiration for many. I believe, the language of the film doesn’t matter as long as the emotions are coming through.