Rajkummar Rao’s Behen Hogi Teri is not your typical romantic film. At least, that’s what the film’s male lead Rajkummar Rao tells us.
Silverscreen has learnt that the difference between this, and any other Bollywood potboiler, is the presence of Shruti Haasan in the lead cast. Even if Rajkummar doesn’t specifically say that.
He attributes the film’s uniqueness to many things. Chief among them is that the script is relatable. He says, “Yes, Behen Hogi Teri is not a typical Bollywood potboiler, or romantic-comedy. It is a very relatable, human film with lot of interesting moments.”
Rao also claims that Lucknow, an otherwise sleepy city, was the place to make films today. Directed by Ajay K Pannalal, Behen Hogi Teri shines the spotlight on Lucknow’s Jaagran community, a rare feat according to Rajkummar.
“Lucknow is the flavour of the season. A lot of films are being shot here. Our film is a slice-of-life fun movie with realistic characters set up in Lucknow. There is a whole Jaagran community here, which not many apart from North Indians might be aware of. My character, Gattu, plays Shiva in one of the jaagran mandlis, which is owned by Shruti’s character and he is in love with her,” Rao said.
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He also explained the meaning behind the film’s rather suggestive title. He said, “My character is madly in love with her, but since he is from the same mohalla, they are neighbours. Everybody thinks that mohalley kay log bhai-behen he hai, ye toh ghar ki baat hai’ [the community people are like brothers and sisters, it’s a house matter]. But how, in his heart and mind, he knows she can’t be his sister. That’s how the title comes.”
The film is scheduled to release next year.