'Anjaana Anjaani' inspired by 'Friends': Siddharth Anand

Mumbai, May 29 (IANS) Director Siddharth Anand says his new film "Anjaana Anjaani", which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, is inspired by the hit American sitcom "Friends".

"I remember when I watched 'Friends' I wanted to meet and know every character. That's how I want audiences to feel about Ranbir and Priyanka in 'Anjaana Anjaani'. When 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' came out, you wanted to feel and touch Raj and Simran. That's how I want audiences to feel about Ranbir and Priyanka...everyone in the team has given his or her best to this film," Anand said.

'Anjaana Anjaani' has been scripted by author Advaita Kala.

"She wrote a chick-lit novel called 'Almost Single'. I asked her to develop a story by my wife Mamta. Ranbir and Priyanka had no reference points in any film for their performance...These are characters going through extraordinary, not easily relatable circumstances. It's about few days that two strangers spend together."

Siddharth shot in Central Park's skating rink. "We shot in iconic New York. We had the skating rink shut down for our shoot for three days. Then we shot with Ranbir and Priyanka in New York's Café Lalo where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks met in 'When Harry Met Sally'."

And they also needed to shoot on a bridge and they finally headed to Kuala Lampur to do that.

"We needed to take over a bridge completely for three-four days. Because of 26/11, we couldn't get the necessary permission. We finally got the bridge in Kuala Lumpur. They made it as easy for us as shooting in Goregaon. Thanks to our producer Sajid Nadiadwala, we could shoot anywhere I wanted," said Anand, who has made films like "Salaam Namaste" and "Bachna Ae Haseeno".

The whole film was shot in live sound and is set to release Oct 1.

Contrary to expectations, Ranbir's singing debut won't be part of the film's CD.

"Ranbir has sung a one-and-half minute track. But it is part of a comic scene. So he will only be singing in the film. We needed Ranbir's character, not Ranbir, to sing. So those who want to watch him sing will have to wait for the film," Anand said.

"I did my first film 'Salaam Namaste' in 2005. If I'm doing another romantic film it better be even cooler and more contemporary. 'Anjaana Anjaani' is the riskiest film ever. I've experimented with the style and performances.

"If audiences believe in the couple, they'll come back repeatedly to watch them. If they don't they'll reject them completely. It's so character-driven. If their performances don't work, the film doesn't," he added.

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Anjaana Anjaani