His flicks have made audiences laugh, cry and bite their nails in anticipation. Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah now unveils Kucch Luv Jaisaa, directed by Barnali Ray Shukla. The flick, starring his spouse Shifaali Shah, a "mad and great actress" as he puts it, also showcases Rahul Bose in a different and tapori avatar...

 

Days before the release of Kucch Luv Jaisaa, Vipul Shah is one busy man. The office is buzzing, his phone's constantly ringing and he's wanted in so many places all at once. In the midst of the hullabaloo, Vipul, whose track record boasts of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif starrer winners such as Namastey London and Singh is Kinng, in addition to grossers such as Aankhen and Waqt: The Race Against Time, manages to take some time off and settle down for a swift chat. According to insiders, Shifaali and Rahul could well be the new onscreen couple to watch out for. Presenting, snippets from the conversation…

How did 'Kucch Luv Jaisaa' happen?
Barnali Ray Shukla, who is the writer and director of this film, had come to meet Shifaali and narrate the script as they're friends and have know each other for a very long time. I was at home and just moving around in the house when I heard them talking about the script, which Barnali wanted Shifaali to do. After Barnali left, I asked Shifaali about the film and she narrated the basic plot of the film to me. I asked her, 'So who's producing it?' Shifaali said, 'So far, nobody. Barnali is looking for a producer.' So I said, 'Ask her. If she wants me to produce it, I'd be happy to do so.' It's a fantastic script. It's very unusual and this is what we, as a company wanted to start – more content driven cinema simultaneous to whatever else is happening. So Barnali and Shifaali spoke about it and that's how I became the producer of this film.

Whose idea was it to cast Rahul Bose as the thug Raghav?
There was a lot of discussion on the casting of Raghav. We wanted somebody who's not generally associated with a look and character like that. We went through a couple of names and we finally felt that Rahul was the best choice for Raghav. He's known as this cool, modern, South Bombay guy. It will be interesting for people to see him speaking in this street lingo and playing a tapori criminal. That language, that appearance is not associated with him. It will be a refreshing change for Rahul's fans and people who like to see his work. So, that's how we thought of getting Rahul to do the role. Being the perfectionist that he is, Rahul went through the narration and then accepted the offer.

Why do you think Shifaali is perfect for the character of Madhu?
Honestly, when I speak about Shifaali, it's a bit of a dilemma for me. Generally, people think that I will only say good things about her since she is my wife; but she is one of the best actresses we have and she can portray any part. I have seen her playing various roles in theatre, television and films and have never found her awkward in anything. If she's given the right role, she can deliver a knock out performance in anything. So, for me it was very easy. And, anyway, it was not my choice. Barnali and Shifaali had already decided to work on the film. I was the one who joined them later, so I had to go with the choice of the writer director in any case.