Filmmaker Raj Mehta’s latest outing JugJugg Jeeyo is being lapped up by the audience. The film, which stars Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Kiara Advani, is a family entertainer based on the subject of the complexities of marriage and infidelity. The Free Press Journal caught up with the director for an exclusive chat.
When asked about how he gets ideas to make family entertainers since he began his career with Good Newwz, Raj says, “I don’t know if it’s by choice. It just happens with me each time. I feel it does come from the fact that you like a subject. Also, it might come from my own upbringing as I have grown up in a big Punjabi family in Delhi, so it comes subconsciously, perhaps. I guess the one-liners of my films intrigued me, be it Good Newwz or now in JugJugg Jeeyo.”
Opening up about his latest release, he shares, “Honestly, I didn’t think of risks while making JugJugg Jeeyo. I was just excited about the subject, which was funny and emotional at the same time. It may have come later to my mind to not offend anyone. As content developers, we have to be a little more careful. At times, you end up writing a scene when you self-doubt and limit your imagination. Even with both of my films, I just wanted to entertain people with these social-based issues.”
Infidelity has been explored to the best in Karan Johar’s 2006 directorial Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, and Raj’s JugJugg Jeeyo also has a similar track. “Infidelity is just an aspect of the film, and I dealt with it in a very mature way since I showed a man whose kids are married like another woman. The character of Bheem, played by Anil, is going through a mid-life crisis. A lot of traits actually relate to Anil sir in real life. He was in my mind while I was writing his character. I am sure the whole thing won’t even qualify as infidelity in my film,” Raj reveals.
Both Good Newwz and now JugJugg Jeeyo have apt humour besides having a mature subject. “This challenge comes with the writing. Be it anything, you have to crack it on paper. I was lucky to have the privilege of writing JugJugg Jeeyo for 7-8 months during the lockdown. I hope we have managed to impress the audience,” he signs off.
