Esha & Fardeen in Honeymoon

by Subhash K Jha

"It's been a long wait…four years since Filhaal," sighs the reclusive ("though not by choice") Meghna Gulzar. "But I guess everything happens when it happens."

The second film is always tougher than the first. But then everyone knew Gulzar Saab's shy but sure daughter would make it beyond her debut. "It feels like a long exile. Everyone presumed I wasn't making another film. But I wasn't sitting around waiting for opportunity to fall into my lap…It never does. But neither could I go around asking producers to give me a film. That isn't me."

She tried putting together a project called Mehfooz. "But that didn't work out. I know I'll make that film someday. Maybe the one after my second film…"

It was finally the ever-enterprising Pritish Nandy who came forward to produce Meghna's second feature film. "Honeymoon sounds like a comedy. But it's actually not a comedy…not the way the genre is defined in our cinema. It's a frothy romantic comedy, far far removed from Filhaal, about a couple on their honeymoon."

The couple will be played by Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol. Esha was finalized some months ago.

"Her mom (Hema Malini) worked so wonderfully with my father in films like Khushboo, Meera and Kinara. I hope to do something special with Esha," promises Meghna who's worked with two of our most brilliant actresses Tabu and Sushmita Sen in her first film.

As for Fardeen he entered the picture a little late. "Fardeen is a fine actor with a great personality. We haven't seen him with Esha. I can see the two playing the characters I've written," says Meghna who has written the film herself.

So what's Papa's contribution going to be? "The lyrics of course…and he's always there.. though he won't be allowed to visit the sets even once."