‘I look up to Alia Bhatt as an actor’
Mohit Suri is known for his movies such as Aashiqui 2 (2013) and Ek Villian (2015). He has directed many love stories, and is popular for his understanding of the romantic genre. However, there are fewer outand-out love stories in the recent past that have made huge business at the box office.
On asking if there is lack of romantic movies that have struck a chord with the audience, Mohit says, “I don’t think of the genre. I do what connects with me. Having said that, I think there is lack of romantic movies. I have had my share [of experimentation] with movies such as Kalyug (2005), Awarapan (2007) and Murder 2 (2011). It was at that moment that I felt like making Aashiqui 2. After making a couple of drama, thriller and horror films, I wanted to break that mould and reinvent myself. At the moment, I am enjoying the phase with the kind of films I am making. I never make a decision thinking that let’s make a romantic film. I go with what I feel about the script, and it should really excite me.”
He adds that for him a script could be something that is larger-than-life, or it could be an indie film. “You have to live with the film for those days. I think every film you do is like a relationship that you have to live with for another year of your life, so you better enjoy what you do,” says the director.
Not many know, but Mohit is Alia Bhatt’s (below low left) cousin. The director is proud of the work she is doing. “I think Alia is onee of the most talented people I have met not only in my family, but in the country.”” On working with Alia in the he future, he says, “If I need to work with her, I need to have ave a script written to match her standards, because I really y look up to her as an actor. She has a huge emotional quotient tient and the commercial viability. lity. It is rare to find a complete te package in one person.”
After making a couple of drama, thriller and horror films, I wanted to break that mould and reinvent myself. MOHIT SURI, FILM-MAKER