Raanjhanaa is a success story and Aanand L Rai is no more a 'stranger' to Bollywood. After making a quiet start in the industry with a rather well made but poorly marketed, promoted and released Strangers (which I remember watching alone in a multiplex on the first day), Aanand could have well gone back to the world of TV. However he hung on, and for a rather long time, before recognition came knocking his doors with Tanu Weds Manu. It was 'Saddi Gali' that pulled in the audiences and rest was taken care of by the trio of Aanand, Madhavan and Kangna as the film started talking for itself.
"There was temptation to make Tanu Weds Manu 2 next. Just about everyone that I met had something or the else in mind for me to begin the sequel. I too had the film in my radar. However I did wonder that whether it was a story that I wanted to tell or get into the trap of making a sequel and establish my position further by playing safe," wonders Aanand who took his time before bringing his next on floors.
Though there were offers galore, Aanand refrained from signing films with various corporate houses that have been showing keen interest in him during the couple of years gone by.
"My conversations with Krishika (Lulla) made me all the more certain though that I wanted to bring on a new tale on screen instead of just going with the motion. Here was a producer who was willing to collaborate on something that broke quite a few rules and formulas. Setting it up on a big scale was never taken as a challenge either and I had everything that I wanted," remembers Aanand, "Just like Tanu Weds Manu, we were travelling the North belt of the country again. The scale got much bigger though as the film required that."
This means an extended shooting schedule in New Delhi, courtesy a strong political backdrop which even came on the forefront at many instances. Of course this also resulted in reactions coming in from those within as well as outside the industry. Fortunately for all involved though, these reactions of initial shock only ended up aiding the film further instead of pulling it down, a risk that paid off for Aanand and Krishika.
"If I wanted, I could have easily made Raanjhanaa as Tanu Weds Manu 2," Aanand ponders, "Think of it, if only I would have named Sonam and Dhanush as Tanu and Manu, extended the feel, ambience and mood as seen in the first half of the film by 30 more minutes, kept it all fun and frolic and kept aside the entire political angle, it would have been an easy walk in the park. After all, I had explored that space already."
He goes on to add, "Even the audience wouldn't have complained; they would have got the product they were looking for. The familiarity factor would all have been there. Those who had invested in the film would have been all the more comfortable with the idea of making profits. I too would have further consolidated my position further. Sab theek hi hota; win-win situation thi. Par phhir uske baad kya? I would have been tempted to make Tanu Weds Manu 3. And before I knew, I would have been slotted; that too due to my own choice. I didn't want that. Glad I made Raanjhanaa instead."
Anupamaa
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