Bhushan Kumar and Luv Ranjan a winning duo

With the success of Sonu ke Tittu ki Sweety (SKTKS), director Luv Ranjan and producer Bhushan Kumar, who are planning a couple of projects together, got candid about the journey of their partnership. “I was nervous but Luv was super confident about his film, always assuring me. Our industry depends a lot on trade analysts and their forecasts, but Luv was assertive from the very beginning and that’s what kept me going,” says Kumar.

Explaining why he always felt confident about the project Ranjan says, “Our industry’s gotten used to the idea that numbers are always related to well-known faces, which makes people apprehensive, but going by the response to the trailer and knowing the film I made, I was confident that the film would reach a certain milestone. The film wasn’t meant for a certain age group, it was meant to be a family entertainer, and it achieved just that.”

The duo met way back in 2012 over lunch, and began speaking about SKTKS, “‘You do what you have to but make sure it’s your kind of movie’ that’s what Bhushan said to me then.’,” recalls Ranjan, adding, “When Bhushan talks about nervousness now, it’s not about the money. Of course, money is important but reputation is more important. To make the right kind of film was imperative, if a film like SKTKS wouldn’t work, what would?”

“Bhushan’s intuition about the music used led to Dil Chori,” shares Ranjan, while Kumar adds, “I was convinced it would be a super hit, we were going with a different song, but about a week before finishing the movie, I told Luv that this is the right song (Dil Chori). None of our work related meetings have lasted more than 15 minutes; I don’t even have his e-mail id! Comfort is so important to work together but so is confidence, which I completely have on Luv. We strike a great balance.”

“I plan to do a lot of stuff that will not be limited to a certain genre. My journey as a filmmaker is in its nascent stages, I may have done four films but the truth is, I want to do 40, I’m a very practical man and I’m in no hurry,” concludes Ranjan. The duo plans to do several movies together, the next being a different kind of romantic comedy that is already in production. It is to star Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet and is being directed by Akiv Ali.

Producer Bhushan Kumar (right) with producer-director Luv Ranjan