Imtiaz Ali opens on Love Aaj Kal (2020): "people didn’t understand what happened....."

Renowned filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently opened up about the underwhelming response to his 2020 film Love Aaj Kal (often referred to as Love Aaj Kal 2), starring Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan. Speaking candidly in a new interview, the director admitted that the film failed to connect with audiences due to its complexity and lack of clarity.

Imtiaz confessed that he may have tried to incorporate too many elements into the film, which ultimately compromised its simplicity. He noted that the movie’s narrative became “thick” and difficult to follow, making it feel less organic. Unlike his 2009 hit of the same name starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, this version struggled to maintain an emotional ease that audiences could resonate with.

Despite featuring a fresh young cast, Love Aaj Kal failed to recreate the magic of its predecessor. Released on Valentine’s Day 2020, the film received mixed reviews and failed to perform well at the box office. However, Imtiaz refrained from blaming the actors, emphasizing that the storytelling and execution were at fault. He acknowledged that while Kartik and Sara were strong performers, the film’s complexity made it difficult for audiences to emotionally invest in the characters.

The director also shared his thoughts on making sequels, stating that they should only be pursued when there is a strong creative reason. Although he believed he had a fresh story for Love Aaj Kal 2, he admitted that its essence wasn’t communicated effectively. This experience has made him cautious about revisiting past successes unless the continuation feels absolutely necessary.

Moving forward, Imtiaz Ali is now focused on his upcoming project, a Netflix series titled O Saathi Re. The romantic drama will feature Aditi Rao Hydari, Avinash Tiwary, and Arjun Rampal in pivotal roles. Created by Ali, the show promises to explore the emotions of vintage love in a modern setting. Describing O Saathi Re as a contemporary love story with an old-world charm, Imtiaz expressed excitement about bringing this narrative to life. With O Saathi Re set to begin production soon, fans are eager to see if Imtiaz Ali can once again weave his signature magic with love stories, to create something fresh and compelling.