Suneel Darshan speaks on Andaaz 2

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In 2003, Suneel Darshan produced Andaaz, a film that introduced Lara Dutta and was the first substantial release of Priyanka Chopra (Jonas), who had done just a small role and a song in The Hero: Love Story of a Spy. Andaaz proved a hit, chalking up 50 weeks in Mumbai and was also noted for its popular music score by Nadeem-Shravan. It was directed by the late Raj Kanwar and was a romantic triangle between the two heroines, whose careers took off with the movie. Akshay Kumar was their common love interest.

Having produced and directed several films since, Suneel now returns with a sequel in spirit, Andaaz 2—the common points being, as he puts it, a hit music score, a romantic triangle and new stars, this time the hero too.

“The film is not a remake but has the same spirit and energy!” says the filmmaker, son to veteran producer Darshan Sabherwal and wife Sheila, who is sister to Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt. Suneel’s first production was Intaqaam in 1988, and his directorial debut was in Lootere, 30 years ago.

The three newcomers are Aayush Kumar, Akaisha and Natasha Fernandez—it’s mere coincidence that the new hero’s initials are shared by Akshay Kumar (and Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor and Aamir Khan!). Of these, Natasha had played the lead in Suneel’s last film, Ek Hasina Thi Ek Diwana Tha in 2017. Suneel stresses that he is a one-man show (he has also directed Andaaz 2, scheduled for an early release in 2024) and discovered the newcomers himself, and not through any agency.

But, in the main, Suneel asserts that his music will be the major star. The filmmaker has a long association with Nadeem-Shravan that began with Ek Rishtaa and went on also to make Haan…Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (as producer), Barsaat (2005) and  Dosti—Friends Forever (as producer-director), Mere Jeevan Saathi (2006 / as director) and after the duo split, Nadeem himself in Ek Hasina Thi… and he has now rekindled the association.

“It’s an original score by a legend!” exulted Suneel, “A legend is a legend and Nadeem’s work speaks for itself! When I signed him, I thought, ‘Let’s get back to music!’ as in the way songs used to be. And my music is wonderful!”

‘Today’ singers Palak Muchhal, Shaan, Amit Mishra, Asees Kaur and Mohammed Irfan have rendered the songs that were recorded in Mumbai while the composer is based in Dubai. Nadeem has also written some of the songs as per the requirement in lyrics. The rest are written by Sameer Anjaan.”

How have Nadeem and he updated their music as per the times? “When the soul is the same, what difference can the external things like sound make?” Suneel wants to know.

And he gives a tangential example to denote changing times. “My 1999 hit was Jaanwar, about a criminal who adopts an abandoned child. My 2001 hit, Ek Rishtaa was a father-son story. If my films can inspire a humongous today’s hit like the father-son story of Animal, which means the same as Jaanwar, why should not the music work?”