Vishal Rana is all set to release his next film, Tu Hai Meri Kiran, this Friday, October 23. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the producer spoke about the film’s casting, its catchy title, the crowded release date and a lot more.
The first thing that stands out about Tu Hai Meri Kiran is that real-life couple Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal are seen in a completely different dynamic. How did that come about?
The script came to me, and I found it interesting as it had a lot of twists and revolved around an obsessive lover. We approached Sonakshi first, and she really liked the story. We wanted an actress in the 25-30 age group, and she fit the bill.
Then it became a challenge to find an actor opposite her who could match her personality, aura, and demeanour. At the same time, the actor had to look more powerful than her, as he plays an obsessive, creepy stalker. We auditioned several actors, but we couldn't find the one we were looking for.
One day, I happened to meet Zaheer and felt that he should audition. When he tested for the part, my director Karan Rawal and I were both surprised. He brought the required intensity to the character of an obsessive lover. The character is a creep with grey shades who derives sadistic pleasure from troubling people. That came across very well during his audition.
I then realized that people would love to see Sonakshi and Zaheer pitted against each other rather than being together. That was the idea, and we are very happy with the casting, which happened quite unexpectedly.
The other catchy aspect of the film is its title, which is also a classic song from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Darr (1993). Tell us how you locked the title. Also, was it difficult to secure the title rights?
Not really. We were looking for a suitable title. Since it’s the story of an obsessive person, one of the names that came to our minds was Darr. However, it was Zaheer who told us that he had narrated the film’s story to a friend, and she suggested the title Tu Hai Meri Kiran.
As you rightly said, even we thought that we might not get the rights. But we were pleasantly surprised when we approached IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association) and discovered that the title had not been registered by anyone!
The title works because it has strong recall value, but the film has nothing to do with Darr. It is neither similar to Darr nor a spin-off. It’s a completely different film, though the title gives you the vibe of a story revolving around an obsessive stalker.
Nowadays, remixes of old classics are in vogue. Did you consider acquiring the rights to the song ‘Tu Hai Meri Kiran’ from Darr?
No. As I said, there are no similarities between the two films, and I don’t want people to compare them. We chose the title because the song ‘Tu Hai Meri Kiran’ has been strongly etched in people’s minds for years. We felt that the title itself was enough to give audiences an idea of what our film is about, without drawing direct comparisons. Hence, we didn’t acquire the rights to any song.
Globally, there has been a rise in films featuring dark and twisted themes, and many of them are working big time. The success of Obsession (2026) is a major example. Do you feel the timing is just right for Tu Hai Meri Kiran?
When I received the script, I liked it because it was different from the kind of films we usually make. As time passed, almost everything working in theatres was about obsessive lovers!
Obsession was released when we were completing our post-production. The film was a huge success, and we felt that the timing was perfect, as Tu Hai Meri Kiran could be our answer to Obsession.
We rarely make these kinds of films in our cinema. I hope people turn up in large numbers because the film will surely surprise them. Youngsters love stories packed with twists, and our film falls into that category. So, I believe the timing is right. Sometimes, you end up making the right film at the right time!
Tu Hai Meri Kiran releases on October 23, alongside six other films. Did you ever consider postponing its release?
When I announced October 23 as the release date, only Luv Ranjan’s Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar and one more film were scheduled to release that day. Gradually, more films joined the line-up. Then Udta Teer shifted to the same date at the last minute. By then, we had already begun our promotional campaign, so pulling back made no sense.
There have been instances where a small film has worked despite clashing with three big films. That happens when the content connects with the audience. Whichever film has better content will succeed, whether during the opening weekend or in the subsequent weeks. Hanuman Ansh was released between two big films. Yet, it managed to hold its own and make a mark. Likewise, we believe in our content.
Also, we genuinely feel that October 23 is a very good release date for our film. The other films releasing that day are mostly mid-sized or small productions. There’s no major event film clashing with us or releasing around the same time. This gives us some breathing space and allows word of mouth to build. From next month onwards, big films will release back-to-back. Had we postponed our release, we probably wouldn't have been able to bring the film to cinemas until next year.
What is the screen count for Tu Hai Meri Kiran?
We are targeting a release across 500 screens with approximately 1,500 shows. Since so many films are releasing simultaneously, it’s difficult to secure screens. However, I believe that the number of screens doesn't necessarily matter.
Several films have opened on a slow note but gradually picked up, prompting theatres to increase their shows. On the other hand, many films have opened across a huge number of screens, only to collapse by Monday because the content was weak. Hence, I am hoping that our film speaks for itself and earns additional screens on merit rather than us having to push for them.
Also Read: Bombay High Court directs makers of Tu Hai Meri Kiran to deposit Rs. 8.85 crores before release
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