EXCLUSIVE: JugJugg Jeeyo director Raj Mehta on possibility of Kiara Advani’s cameo in Selfiee: She is my lucky mascot

After the theatres in India opened post pandemic, the whole dynamics of film business were changed. No one could comprehend the formula of what will work and what not. And amidst this period, very few films that released went on to become a success and one of them was last months’s release JugJugg Jeeyo. Starring Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, the film connected to the masses and has crossed over Rs 130 crore at the worldwide box office. Recently, the director of the film Raj Mehta indulged in an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble, where he spoke about the film, its success and his actress Kiara Advani. Read excerpts from the interview:

 

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How has been the response that you have received for JugJugg Jeeyo and your direction?

“I am still getting messages on social media and everywhere, and it is really overwhelming. I am grateful and thankful for it. What I like is that people are pinpointing specific scenes or moments or characters that they enjoyed, that just means they have got into the film, seen it carefully and attached to it.”

You have explored the emotional range of Kiara Advani as an actress in the film. How was your experience of it?

“I have seen her grow leaps and bounds as an actor from Good Newwz. She is also still starting out and there are facets of her as an actress that even she has not discovered yet. But one thing is for sure that she has an amazing range as an actress which I have been fortunate enough to explore. I was so pleasantly surprised and happy. There is still a long way to go for her and I hope my association with her continues longer as well.”

 

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Considering the whole scenario of the pandemic, how did your expectations changed of the film’s box office and how did the actual collection lived up to it?

“I don’t understand the trade in too much detail but I know for a fact that times have changed. So, for me, the figures that I was hearing during Good Newwz compared to the ones I am hearing right now, I was initially a little underwhelmed, also because I was getting good reviews from audiences and critics alike. So, I think that raises your expectations a bit. I will be lying if I say that I wasn’t slightly underwhelmed when I heard the figures. But then I had a chat with Karan (Johar) and some other people who gave me a perspective on how the times and viewing habits of the audiences have changed. Nowadays, it’s gonna take that much more for the audience to come to theatres. I hope that change is here. But at the end of it, I am extremely satisfied and happy with the reception I have got.”

 

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How did the success of JugJugg Jeeyo felt different from the success of Good Newwz?

“Success success hota hai. I’ll be honest, I think I got more praise for this film than I got for Good Newwz. Other than that, there has been no difference as such. I feel like I have gotten a bit more mature in dealing with a subject like this.”

 

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Now with two successes behind you, is that confidence boost reflecting in your next, Selfiee?

“I don’t know, I’ll have to see when I get to the sets. (Laughs) Every film is a challenge and brings the same amount of anxiousness and will to do better. The fact that my first two films have gotten the response that they did, it has increased my responsibility to work even that much harder on my next film. Now I have something to live up to.” 

 

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Good Newwz, JugJugg Jeeyo and now Selfiee, all three films are four actors story. Can we say that has become your forte?

“Next one I want to make with some less characters. (Laughs) But it just happened that way and subconsciously, I think I enjoyed that. I just happened to run into stories that had these characters. If that is a pattern, we will discover, that even I will also eventually discover.” 

 

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Kiara Advani has been a part of your first two films. The cast of Selfiee is announced but can we expect a cameo of hers in the film?

“That is a lovely idea, I will discuss it with her. Right now, there is no space but main banata hun, she is my lucky mascot also.”

Also Read: Did you know JugJugg Jeeyo had a different title originally? Raj Mehta spills the beans