New Delhi: Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says he has cast new actors Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher in 'Mirziya' because it required fresh faces and could not have been made with established actors.
Mehra's upcoming venture, inspired by the love tale of Sahiban and Mirza, is written by noted filmmaker, lyricist and author Gulzar.
"I did not want to take known actors because they come with a certain baggage and the audience is familiar with them. The film is a fresh take on the this legendary love story, so it needed young, fresh faces," Mehra said.
The 51-year-old director, who has so far worked with stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Farhan Akhtar, knew he had found his Mirza, when he met actor Anil Kapoor's son, Harshvardhan.
"When I met him two years ago, I was confident that only he could be my Mirza. I told him about the film but he said he was not ready so I decided to wait. Last year he came and said he was prepared for the film so we had him on board. For me, I had found my lead," he said.
Mehra is entering a new territory with 'Mirziya', as he has never experimented with love stories before but the filmmaker does not consider it a challenge. "'Mirziya' is not a risk. I don't see my films like that. I tell stories I want to and I believed in the story of 'Mirziya'. There is no pressure on me to make certain type of movies," he said.
Mehra is also not bothered about the people's expectations from him after the success of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. "I don't intend to make a message-oriented film. I wanted to make 'Bhaag...', I did and I am glad people loved it to such a great extent but I don't intend to make only socially-responsible films because of it," the director-producer said.
Mehra added that the Milkha Singh biopic should not be hailed as a trend-setter of movies on sportspersons, while agreeing with actress Priyanka Chopra, who said her upcoming film 'Mary Kom' did not take cue from 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. "'Mary Kom' is an individual and independent expression. I don't think 'Bhaag...' has set any trend which any film will follow.
"It is the first one in the category and has struck the right nerve, hence people have made it appear like that but that's the tendency. Whichever film does well, it is said other pick from it but I don't believe in this." Mehra said.
