‘‘Saiyaara’ Reminds Us That Romance Never Dies,’ Says ‘Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar’ Writer Jehan Handa (EXCLUSIVE)

In the past decade, romantic films took a back seat, with tentpole massy actioners driving audiences to the box office due to larger-than-life presentations, until the arrival of “Saiyaara.” The musical romantic drama featuring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, which released last year, emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters, raking in ₹329.73 crore in its theatrical run.

Jehan Handa, the writer of the upcoming youth romantic comedy “Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar” and Imran Khan’s comeback flick “Adhure Hum Adhure Tum,” says that if portrayed sincerely, moviegoers will accept such stories. “I believe that Indians are inherently romantic — secretly, publicly, passionately. Love runs in our veins. Whether it is a husband's love for his wife, first love, or remembering someone after 20 or 30 years, I believe that love goes beyond death. It goes with you to your funeral pyre. Love is in our veins; it is deeply embedded in our system. I feel that, perhaps, no other nation or community in the world is quite like Indians when it comes to love. Whether it is expressed in small or grand ways, on the big screen or the small screen, if you portray love with sincerity, I believe audiences will accept it.”

He explains how romantic movies across generations have been accepted by the public since the 1980s by sharing examples of romantic classics. “Whether it is Kumar Gaurav's ‘Love Story,’ Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh's portrayal of grief and longing in ‘Betaab,’ SRK’s ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ or ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,’ every generation needs a film that reminds us that love is the greatest feeling of all. ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai,” “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha,” or Dharma's brand of films, including Karan Johar's “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” “Kal Ho Naa Ho” and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” these films remind us in different ways that romance never dies. Love and laughter never die. They remain immortal.”

The writer opens up about the craze of “Saiyaara” among youth and reveals that the film is a reminder that audiences still crave the romantic genre. “For this generation, ‘Saiyaara’ reminded everyone that it is possible to fall in love at the movies. You must have seen people getting hooked up to drips, crying in theatres, or coming to watch the film with their girlfriends or boyfriends. I think it is our duty as writers to preserve that passion. If we don't, we will fail. People will continue to fall in love, even after we are gone, and the world will continue to flourish. I believe that we are not indispensable. Love will exist whether we are here or not. We just need to remind people of its power, and ‘Saiyaara’ is one such reminder. Our endeavour must be to create more and more honest pieces of work. People will come.”