Riteish-Genelia's real life bond inspired reel climax

Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya didn’t have a fixed climax till Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza’s wedding gave the film’s producer and director an idea. Later, Riteish not only informed Taurani about his decade-old romance with Genelia in November, but also broke the news of their February wedding.

Till November 2011, soon-to-be-married couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza were shooting for Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya that releases this month. But apparently, the film’s producer and director didn’t have a fixed climax in mind. But after Riteish broke the news of his impending nuptials to producer Kumar Taurani — who was oblivious to their real-life equation — the film’s creative team hit upon the ultimate climax scene: getting them married at the end.

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“It’s a romantic comedy, and what else can you expect a boy and girl in love to do, except get married in the end. But I’m sure the audience will love what we have done with their reel marriage,” says Taurani, admitting that when he had signed the duo for his project, he had no idea they were in love.

“Let me set the record straight. We thought the script suited Riteish and Genelia perfectly. So, we first approached Riteish. When he agreed, I told him that only Genelia could do justice to the girl’s part. She agreed too. We didn’t sign them on as a real couple playing reel lovers,” he reasons.

Later, Riteish not only informed Taurani about his decade-old romance with Genelia in November, but also broke the news of their February wedding. “He said, ‘Besides our parents, you are the first one to know’. I was really touched,” says the producer, who initially planned to release Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya on December 30.

But since Don 2 (2011) was slotted to release around the same time, followed by Players in early January, Taurani felt his modest rom-com could be affected.

“I shifted the date to February 24. Poor Genelia is still dubbing for her part, just days before her wedding,” he says, adding, “I don’t know if their wedding will help us at the box office but people might be interested in watching them together on the big screen soon after their marriage. Eventually, the film will sustain if the audience finds the story, music and performances up to the mark. For now, I have my toes and fingers crossed.”