Aditya Chopra’s Befikre won’t have a DDLJ hangover. Aditya Chopra, the reclusive filmmaker, shares details of his unlearning process in an open letter titled ‘My Second First Film’. He says that with the Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor starrer, he’s stepping out his comfort zone into the minefield of the young and restless. Though he’s grateful to his audience for having loved his films in the past, he’s keeping his fingers crossed for his second debut.
What kind of film would I make if I was 23 today? I don’t think I would’ve made DDLJ because the experiences and influences of that 23 year old would be very different to today’s 23 year old guy. The world has changed. Definitions of love have changed. More importantly, women have changed. Today they’re equal to men (actually stronger) in every possible way. This truly has changed the rules of love forever. Who asks whom out first? Who says I love you first? Do we say I love you at all? Who breaks up first?Aditya Chopra, Filmmaker
I wanted to feel as if I’m making my first film. To achieve this, the most important decision I took was to surround myself with people I didn’t know. Since the film is set in Paris I chose a full French crew. Since I was a complete stranger to them, they did not come with any baggage of my past achievements and treated me as any regular director. The other important decision I took towards my unlearning process was to let go of my greatest strengths. In all my writing work till date there are three pillars on which all my films lean on: Dramatic Conflict, Heightened Emotions and Intense Romance. I decided to break these pillars and see if I could survive without my favourite tools. It was scary but liberating.Aditya Chopra
The film releases in theatres on 9 December.
Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor, together with everyone who has worked on Befikre, is of the opinion that Aditya Chopra’s comeback film feels more like his debut. Aditya Chopra has been in the business of cinema since before his first film (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge), which is a cult in itself. But this behind-the-scenes video reveals how Adi’s aim was to create this film, like it was his first, without the baggage of the ‘success’ he has already achieved.
Aditya Chopra ends his letter on an honest note-
I want to end with saying I’m Befikar in keeping with the spirit of my film but honestly, I’m shit scared!!!Aditya Chopra
Now that’s a heartfelt confession and a courageous one too. The rest of course he’s leaving to his audience. Befikre hits theatres on 9 December.
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