Actor-turned director Anant Mahadevan is keeping his fingers crossed that his latest venture Dil Maange More, in which Shahid Kapur romances three heroines, would do well.
"DilMaange More is definitely more mainstream. It isn't treated the way comedies are generally treated. There's nothing loud or crass about it. It's definitely not like Hulchal," Mahadevan told IANS.
His previous directorial effort Dil Vil Pyar Vyar was a washout.
"Dil Vil PyarVyar was India's first retro-musical. No one had shot three different love stories in three different colours."
Clearly Anant's USP in Dil Maange More, that released on December 31, is leading man Shahid Kapur who, after an attempt to do a darker dimension in Fida, returns to his Ishq Vishq beginnings.
Observes Anant, "At this point in his career Shahid should try not to break away from his youthful romantic image. Darker films don't suit him now. If he wants to do Baazigar or Darr, Shahid will have to wait another five years. He needs to consolidate his lover-boy's image."
How Shahid came into Dil Maange More is another story.
"Earlier I was supposed to do the same project with Tusshar Kapoor in the lead. At that time his MujheKucch Kehna Hai had just been released. We needed a face that could project a character that hadn't been exposed to the ways of the world.
{{/usCountry}}"Earlier I was supposed to do the same project with Tusshar Kapoor in the lead. At that time his MujheKucch Kehna Hai had just been released. We needed a face that could project a character that hadn't been exposed to the ways of the world.
{{/usCountry}}"Unfortunately Tusshar's subsequent films didn't do well. And my producers panicked. Just then I met Shahid and sounded him out on the project. With due respects to Tusshar's talents, I now feel no one could've fitted the bill better than Shahid. I needed the Aamir Khan of
Qayamat Se Qayamat
Tak
. And I got it. The character had to be shown going through three phases of love."
Anant can't stop raving about his leading man. "I don't think there's anyone in his age bracket. The closest someone comes to Shahid is Hrithik Roshan. The rest of our heroes would've looked a little too mature for the role."