After making his OTT debut with Maharaj last year, Junaid Khan is all set to present his first theatrical film in the form of Advait Chandan’s Loveyapa, which is set to release on February 7. The film sees him cast opposite Khushi Kapoor, who is also making her theatrical debut. Junaid spoke about the film and the experience of shooting it in an interview with us.
Your sophomore venture is around the corner. How does it feel? Were you more anxious during you debut?
I’m very excited. I personally like the film and the music very much. How people will respond to it, time will tell. But I like what we have done and I guess that’s all one can really hope for. So far, I have found the experience of having an upcoming release more surreal than anxious, whether it was Maharaj or Loveyapa.
Loveyapa is a world apart from Maharaj. Was Loveyapa more fun less intense?
They are worlds apart. Even how the films were made. I actually found the experience of shooting Loveyapa more intense. We had very young crew with a first time DOP, first time Production Designer and Phantom Films making a film after a very long time. That brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm on set.
And your debut film?
Maharaj had a very senior and experienced crew, which made the filming experience more relaxed and controlled. Aside from that, the films are very different, and the characters are very different. My character in Maharaj was closer to my personality than Loveyapa. I feel so this time was more of a challenge and more intense.
Your dad Aamir Khan was more than willing to launch you yet you chose the independent path. Was that a conscious decision?
Sir, I feel that’s just how things happened. Papa was and remains more than willing to cast me in film that he feels I’m correct for. Beyond that he won’t go out of his way for it and that’s how it should be. The first project where everything aligned came from Yash Raj Films and the second from Phantom Films, but my next film is with Aamir Khan Production for which we have already finished filming.
What was it like shooting this fun and funny romcom in Delhi? Any really memorable moments?
It was a lot of fun. We shot in Mumbai and Delhi from the summer going into the monsoon. There were lots of praying to the rain gods and hair-makeup-wardrobe complaining about the sweaty actors. But personally, I got to work with some fantastic senior actors. Ashutosh Ranaji, who I’m a huge fan of and who brings just this fantastic energy on set. He gives so much in scenes that you are there with him and he elevates everyone’s performance. Kiku Sharda sir who is probably the biggest star in our film. He’s a proper A list TV star. This film he’s doing drama instead of comedy and he’s just fabulous. Grusha Kapoor ma’am who’s playing my mother, I feel that relationship in the film has the best chemistry.
Are you at all taking tips from your dad on your career trajectory? Or will you follow your own path?
I mostly do my own thing, and papa is very encouraging of that. He has always let us do our own thing but if we ever need anything he is always there with the best advice. I normally go to him when I have something specific I want advice on and he is very very helpful.
You grew up idolizing?
Our country has such fantastic actors the list is very long. Irrfan (Khan) sahab, Naseer sahab, Srideviji, (Amitabh) Bachchan Sahab, Rani (Mukerji), Kareena (Kapoor Khan), the list is very long.
Dad Aamir was very keen on working with Srideviji. Now you are working with her daughter. Surreal?
Definitely surreal. Papa and I are both huge fans of Srideviji. Mr. India was one of my favourite films growing up. Papa had always wanted to work with her for years and years. But I will also say that Srideviji’s daughter Khushi is going to be a big star in her own right. She is absolutely dynamite in our film.
What after Loveyapa?
I have an Aamir Khan Productions Film with Sai Pallavi called Ek Din. We have finished filming. It will also be out soon hopefully. I’m also on stage in Mumbai at the NCPA Experimental Theatre in March.
Also Read: Loveyapa song ‘Kaun Kinna Zaroori Si’, featuring Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor, to be released tomorrow
from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/GJgpvRl
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