Milan Luthria: Both of us had to leave Suniel Shetty behind

Ahan Shetty in Tadap

Launching a star kid can be a big responsibility. Director Milan Luthria, however, is not feeling any pressure as he is days away from introducing Ahan Shetty to the audience with Tadap. He says the assurance comes from his faith in the youngster's potential. With his brooding presence and bulky physique, the star kid instantly reminds one of his actor-father Suniel Shetty. The nature of the business is such that comparisons will be inevitable. "With due respect, both of us had to leave Suniel behind [when we started working on the film]," states the director. "Ahan, as an actor, is different from his father. He has a mind of his own and performs instinctively. My only brief to him was, ‘Be yourself because there is only one Ahan Shetty in the world. Don't try to be somebody else.'"

Suniel Shetty

The popular notion that star kids get their Bollywood break relatively easily may not be entirely wrong. But Luthria asserts that he screened the junior Shetty before roping him in. "I liked Ahan, but I tested him. I gauged his potential before I agreed to do the film. I tested Tara [Sutaria] as well. So, I knew I had two good actors on board. I was looking for things that challenge me, and [helming a film with] two new actors is challenging."

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Milan Luthria

A remake of the Telugu film RX 100 (2018), Tadap is an intense love story of two star-crossed lovers Ishana and Ramisa. The filmmaker often gravitates towards tragic love stories for their poignant take on romance. "In Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai [2010], Ajay [Devgn's character] dies in the end. Ditto for Vidya Balan's character in The Dirty Picture [2011]. Tragedies leave you with a strong emotion. Films like Sadak [1991], Hero [1983] and Ek Duje Ke Liye [1981] are great examples of action romantic entertainers. I wanted to go down that path rather than attempt a typical college love story. To me, Tadap is more a shocker than anything else."

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