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Celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra has made a successful foray into filmmaking with the premiere of his maiden production, Saali Mohabbat, at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. As he transitions from designing for the stars to storytelling on the big screen, Malhotra is eager to carve out a new identity as a filmmaker.
“My dream with Stage 5 was to start a different narrative from what’s expected out of me,” Malhotra emphasises. “The expectation is that I would cast Kareena Kapoor Khan or any of the young girls, with lots of glamour in the films I back. But this is not an extension of my brand. I can do glamorous storytelling any time. But the most important thing is the script as I want to focus on good storytelling through my films.”
Malhotra’s production venture, Saali Mohabbat, is a gripping thriller directed by Tisca Chopra and featuring a talented ensemble cast, including Radhika Apte, Divyenndu, and Anurag Kashyap. The film’s narrative is its strongest aspect, and Malhotra is proud to have backed a project that pushes boundaries and challenges conventional storytelling.
When asked if he sought advice from industry friends, especially Karan Johar, Malhotra reveals that he chose to rely on his own instincts. “When I told Karan about Saali Mohabbat, he was very surprised. But he also knows if I’ve said yes to something, I will do it. I didn’t ask anyone anything. I just wanted it to be mine, be it good, bad, or ugly.”
Malhotra’s transition into filmmaking may have raised eyebrows, but he is confident that his passion for cinema and his understanding of storytelling will serve him well. “All fashion designers don’t have a film sense, but some do. With me, it was organic because I was in love with films since childhood, watching the works of Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, or Mehmood Khan. I love the ’70s, their songs, and costumes. I am steeped in films. That’s why I get how it works.”
How did filmmaking come up in the first place? Manish says, “It was during the pandemic (Covid-19), the time when we all sat and introspected because we had the time to. I kept wondering for how long will I keep making clothes for people? I also wanted to tell stories…”
With Saali Mohabbat marking his debut as a producer, Malhotra has several other projects in the pipeline, including Bun Tikki starring Zeenat Aman and Abhay Deol, and Ul Jalool Ishq starring Naseeruddin Shah, Fatima Sana Sheikh and Vijay Verma. When asked about the status of the Meena Kumar biopic, which he was initially set to direct with Kriti Sanon, Malhotra revealed that he is no longer attached to the project. “I’m not doing the biopic. I’ll direct something else. Directing is one dream that remains unfulfilled.”
Manish had confirmed that he was going to helm the Meena Kumari biopic in an earlier interview last year. When he was asked about the reports of him directing Meena Kumari’s biopic, he said, “I don’t know how it got out but it is happening. We are still working on the script. The script is key, always. I have been reading her books. The film is based on her books. I have always been fascinated by Meena Kumari.”
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