Aditya Chopra announces new directorial 'Befikre'

Mumbai, Sep 27 (IANS) Aditya Chopra is returning to film direction after seven years with "Befikre" -- and he chose his father and veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra's 83rd birth anniversary on Sunday to make a formal announcement about the project. He calls it his "riskiest" and "youngest" film.

"With the blessings of my father, on his 83rd birth anniversary, I'm announcing my next directorial venture after seven years," Aditya shared via an e-letter issued to the media on behalf of his home banner Yash Raj Films (YRF).

The unique e-letter also features an "imaginary conversation" between Aditya and his father, whom he still considers as his "Go to Guy".

Aditya, who last directed "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" in 2008, admits in the letter that his father always wanted him to direct the "biggest films of YRF" and this new project is "not that".

He has also shared that "Befikre" will "probably not" have the potential to be as successful as his earlier films -- including "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and "Mohabbatein" -- but has admitted that he absolutely loves it.

"I started writing it for fun while I was writing my most ambitious script. I thought I'll give it to one of my directors and I'll just produce it. But I enjoyed writing it so much that I knew half way that I'm going to direct it myself," the reticent Aditya tells his father in the imaginary conversation.

Asked what excited him about the script, he shares: "It's just very different to any of the films I have directed so far. Till now, all the films I have directed or written have been intense, dramatic and emotional. This one is just a light-hearted romance, nothing more.

"It's my happiest film. My youngest film. My riskiest film."

And so, it doesn't quite bother Aditya even if the movie may not make it to the Rs.100 crore or Rs.200 crore clubs of Bollywood.

In fact, he says that one of the reasons he wants to make this film is "to free myself of this burden".

"I don't want to keep trying to better my films. I want to make what makes me happy, and I'm sure if I do that well, the numbers will follow.

To that, the late Yash Chopra -- who passed away three years ago after completing his last directorial "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" -- tells his elder son in their conversation -- "Make it with conviction and make it fearlessly."

The film's tagline reads - "Those who dare to love", indicating that love will be a core element in Aditya's new film.