Official: Aishwarya, Ranbir, Anushka in KJo's next Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Some people are super special. Whatever they do becomes the talk of the town. The extremely talented Karan Johar clearly falls in this category. There is speculation every time he just produces a film, but in a film that he will be directing, the amount of speculation is at another level. While Karan has not responded to any speculation so far, for the very first time, he shares details of his next directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Excerpts:

How did Ae Dil Hai Mushkil happen?

I had developed a film for over a year-and-a-half that needed another 3-5 months of screenplay work. That film is still going to be made and I will make it immediately after Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. That film is tough and a challenging narrative and is about a husband, wife and a daughter and I have already cast the husband. But when I went to New York, this film suddenly came to me. I think it is about getting out of Mumbai. I wrote it in just 30 days. I have never done that before. One day, I was chatting with my friend Apoorva Mehta on the phone, telling him that I am writing this and I am writing that. We had a long hour-and-a-half chat and suddenly after that, he says, 'But Karan, you have the screenplay.' And I said, 'Yes, actually I do.' I had not written a word anywhere. I rushed back to the hotel room and just made some notes, so that I didn't forget it. I had decided that I had to make it. I never write down a thing on paper as it's always in my head.

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Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will fulfill my big dream to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: KJo

I had two ADs with me there, to research my other husband-wife film. I called them and said, 'Change your plan. I am going to do that later. For now, get your dictaphone out.' And I narrated the film in detail to the both of them and from what they recorded, they put it down as a screenplay. When they say that a film is born within you and it comes right out, it's true. I landed back in India a day before Diwali. And I spoke to all three of them one after the other (Aishwarya, Ranbir and Anushka) and they were all on. All three of them sat on the same spot of my house and I now consider it my lucky corner.

Why Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma?

I had got to know Ranbir and Anushka really well while shooting Bombay Velvet. And I saw their chemistry. Bombay Velvet had tapped into an unusual part of their chemistry. This film will tap into another unusual part of their chemistry.

How come Aishwarya and you have not worked before?

I have always wanted to work with Aishwarya. She and I have missed working with each other on several opportunities. I had first offered her Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and at that time, she was doing Jeans. There was a juncture when I thought Kajol would not do Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham as she had just got married. But I remember Kajol and I had this emotional moment. She did the film and I landed up not calling Aishwarya. Then at one juncture, I wanted to cast her in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and things didn't work. It's been a hit-and-miss scenario with her literally. This time we hit it, literally. And it's a very special role.

Which role did you want to cast Aishwarya for in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai?

I had gone to her for Rani's role. There was a series of girls I had gone to. Rani, ironically in that film, was Aditya Chopra's suggestion. And the only girl who had called me back to say that she can't do the film was Aishwarya, barring Tina who had met me and said I can't do it. I offered the role to 7 other heroines, but none of them called me back. My maid came and told me, 'Aishwarya Rai ka phone hai.' I got so excited that somebody had called me back. She said, 'Karan, I was really excited and really liked your script and would have done it, but I am shooting in 7 continents for Jeans, so can't do it." I thought it was really gracious of her to have called. I told her I want to thank you. The fact that you are not doing it does not make me as sad as the fact that you have called me has made me happy. And then Adi Chopra called me the next day saying, 'Have you seen the promo of Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and have you seen this girl?' And then I went and signed Rani Mukerji.

Tell us about Ae Dil Hai Mushkil?

Love is the theme and conflict of my next directorial endeavor. When I worked with Ranbir and Anushka in Bombay Velvet, I knew their pairing and undeniable chemistry warranted another film and I am extremely excited to direct them. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil also fulfills my big dream to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. It is possibly her most unusual and contemporary character and I can't wait to work with her. It is too early to talk about the film, but for now, all I want to say is that it is not a conventional love story or love triangle. It's a film that dwells deeply on relationships, heartbreaks and how love completes you, defines you and yet leaves you wanting for more. I have never had, in my entire career, a film that has come to me so fast, so organically and so from within.

The music in Dharma films is always a hit. On top of that, this one will be directed by you. Have you finalised the music director?

This is a very musical film and I have finalised Pritam.

Have you closed on the release date?

June 3, 2016.

Where will the film be shot?

In New York, London, Paris and parts of it in Delhi.

What are your feelings at this point in time?

I am excited as hell like a child in a candy store. I am reaching in the morning, bubbling with energy. Sometimes it doesn't matter if your film has taken three years to write or 30 days, it is actually the excitement for the level of material and I am very excited.