In 2019, Ayushmann Khurrana and Nushrratt Bharuccha teamed up for the first time on screen and delivered one of the biggest hits of the year with Dream Girl. The film marked the directorial debut of filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa and the film showed an entertaining story of a small town guy who takes up the job at a call center where he speaks in a female’s voice with lonely callers.
The film connected to the masses and got rave reviews but after that, Raaj took up production, with his two projects already underway, the film Janhit Mein Jaari with Nushrratt and the series The Great Weddings Of Munnes with Abhishek Bannerjee and Barkha Singh. As I get to speak to him, I asked him why hasn’t he taken up another directorial since as he must have got good offers.
Raaj replies,
“Firstly, two years out of that time went into the pandemic, so things were quite different then. Secondly, while I was writing, I was thinking on what should I do after Dream Girl, that it is new and better. With the first film, you kind of announce and show that you know your work, but the second film is more important as you have more responsibility to match the bar. I also didn’t have any urgency to direct. But now, I have that script ready so I’ll announce it soon.”
Nushrratt Bharuccha, Raaj Shaandilyaa and Ayushmann Khurrana (Source: Instagram | @writerraj)
Raaj reunites with his leading actress from Dream Girl, Nushrratt, in Janhit Mein Jaari, and The Great Wedding Of Munnes marks his reunion with Abhishek, who was also a part of Dream Girl. Ask him if there is a reunion with Ayushmann on cards too, and he says, “I hope so.”
Talking about his next, there had been reports that the filmmaker is all set to go ahead with the sequel to his debut directorial with the film getting on floors this June. While he doesn’t talk about the dates yet, but he does confirm that Dream Girl 2 is actually happening.
He reveals,
“I am writing Dream Girl 2 and it is almost complete. So, hopefully we’ll announce it soon.”
While he doesn’t give away anything else on the film, including the cast, he does give a subtle hint that we might get to see the original team reunite on the screen for the sequel as well.
The filmmaker asserts,
“If I do the film, I’ll do it with them only.”
