Jugjugg Jeeyo director Raj Mehta: I don’t assume anybody is aware of what’s going to work

Director Raj Mehta says he’s “anxious” in regards to the launch of his second characteristic movie “Jugjugg Jeeyo” because it opens theatrically at a time when there’s a lot uncertainty across the field workplace efficiency of Hindi movies.

Produced by Dharma Productions, the comedy drama is headlined by Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Kiara Advani and Neetu Kapoor. The commerce has put its hopes on the movie, scheduled to open on June 24, to comply with up on the success of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2” in a yr the place Hindi movie business has seen solely two different hits, “Gangubai Kathiawadi” and “The Kashmir Files”.

In an interview with PTI, Mehta mentioned the lackluster efficiency of Hindi movies have “added to the nervousness”.

“There are new theories popping out each week about what sort of movies will work or received’t. Some say the development is of huge movies, some say that’s not the case fully. There’s a variety of uncertainty, I don’t assume anybody is aware of what’s going to work. Does that add to the nervousness? Absolutely.

“Because you can never be confident that you’ve made a film that’s going to do well. This is my second film, I’m following up a successful debut, so there’s that pressure as well. But the times are such that you don’t know what is going to work,” the “Good Newwz” director mentioned.

Mehta mentioned he has received reassurance from his producer, Karan Johar, that he’s pleased with the completed movie.

“There’s nervousness but I’m also excited. What is reassuring me is that the person who I’m responsible towards, the producer of the film, has enjoyed the film, seen it and loved it,” he added.

“Jugjugg Jeeyo” follows the story of a father and son, who uncover that they each wish to divorce their wives.

Mehta, who had beforehand helmed Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer “Good Newwz”, mentioned his newest is extra “drama heavy” than his debut.

“‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ is extra drama heavy than ‘Good Newwz’ was. ‘Good Newwz’ was an out and out comedy aside from the third act. Here, the topic is marriage, relationships and divorces so there may be extra drama, particularly within the second half.

“There’s also a strong female perspective that comes into play. The film actually has more than what the trailer has suggested. All of this was done in an entertaining way,” he added.

Mehta determined to work on the movie a month earlier than the discharge of “Good Newwz’” in 2019, after he chanced upon the story by Anurag Singh and Sumit Batheja.

The director collaborated together with his “Good Newwz’” author Rishhabh Sharrma to flesh out the screenplay as he felt it had a “solid potential of comedy and emotions”.

Though the director has successful debut behind him within the style, Mehta mentioned comedy is an “absolute gamble”.

“You may be enjoying while writing it, but you don’t know how it might appear on screen. There isn’t a bigger sinking feeling than seeing a punch not land. That risk is always there, which is why every filmmaker who has dabbled into this genre has said that this is really difficult to pull off. But everything in ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ fell into place beautifully,” he added.

Mehta mentioned comedy is one thing that comes naturally to him however it’s too early in his profession to name any style as his “forte”.

“I was drawn to ‘Good Newwz’ and ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ because of their stories. In fact, I even made a short film in the Netflix anthology ‘Ajeeb Daastaans’ which was quite dark. I’m still too young in my career to feel, ‘this genre is my forte’. I hope I don’t get that because I want to keep experimenting with my work. The next genre that I want to try is action. It’s a genre I enjoy watching, but it’s just that I didn’t find a subject of that kind to direct. I’m working on one, but let’s see where it goes. These big, happy films are purely by accident.”