Real-life love spills into reel life...

Producer-director Raj Kanwar has a secret. His latest film, Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, has been inspired by the story of a young couple he met in Canada two years ago.

Kanwar plans to premiere this Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif-starrer in Toronto next month — where the couple is based.

"I don't want to reveal their identity now," says Kanwar. "They will be in the limelight when the film releases on April 13. I have plans to make them the special guests at the Toronto premiere on April 15."

Kanwar says he met the duo through a common friend. "I was in Canada two years ago when I was introduced to them. The man is from Punjab, while his wife is from another Asian country.

They were very much in love, and there was so much chemistry between them! We started talking, and they told me they were both engaged to someone else before they got married. That was the reference point for my script."

Special attraction

The plot has Akshay Kumar as Aditya, an auto engineer, who is engaged to fashion designer Sonia (Bipasha Basu). Katrina Kaif, who plays Jia, is also engaged to someone else.

Yet, the film is about Aditya and Jia's love story. "Though the film is a love saga, there are certain issues that have been also looked into. What drives people into a relationship and what makes it work. Why do people have feelings for someone, and not for others?" questions Kanwar.

Made for each other

Akshay has also met the couple. "I met them when they came on the sets, in Calgary, Canada. We talked a lot, and they are a very happy couple. I think they were meant to be together. I can't reveal their names; I don't think they want their identities to be public."

HDKG has been shot in Canada and the US. "We shot in the Grand Canyon, and a lot in Calgary, as the story unfolds there," says Kanwar.