Karan is emotionally present in 'Salaam': Nikhil Advani

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Nikhil Advani's upcoming multi-starrer "Salaam-e-Ishq" will represent the emotional bonding between the director and his mentor Karan Johar, who were reportedly at loggerheads after the release of their film "Kal Ho Naa Ho".

"Karan is emotionally and intelligently present in the film. I have worked with Sudhir Mishra also and my film shows all that I have learned from my peers. In fact, I am borrowing everything from my mentors," Advani told IANS on telephone from Mumbai.

Despite a hit in his kitty and an impressive cast which boasts of big names like Priyanka Chopra-Salman Khan, John Abraham-Vidya Balan, Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna-Ayesha Takia, Sohail Khan-Esha Deol and Govinda-Shannon Esrechowitz, the young director is suffering with pre-release blues.

"This is my second film and there is lots of fear and nervousness," he said.

So, is it an episodic film?

"No, it is not an episodic film. I wish it had been because than it would have been much easier for me to write it. I faced so much difficulty in writing it.

"There are six separate tracks in this film and they keep interconnecting and inter-crossing each other and in the end they become one track. There are seven songs in the film and in four of them you can see all the couples. That is enough testimony to prove that it is not an episodic film."

Advani's film is meant for those who have experienced love in life.

"It is a story of what you shouldn't do when you are in love. All the characters in this film are creating confusion and complicating their lives but in the end they straighten it out."

Most of the big budget multi-starrers eye NRI audiences but Advani says that his film will appeal to all and sundry.

"Govinda is a taxi driver in Delhi, Anil and Juhi are married and struggling with their marriage in London, Sohail and Esha are a newly married Haryanvi couple concentrating on their marriage... So it is a universal kind of film and it will appeal to every one. It shows that love overpowers everything. If you have ever been in love, you will like this film."

After two films, Advani can boast of working with almost all the top-notch stars of Bollywood. So is Aamir Khan his next target?

"I would love to work with him but he is very choosy about his roles. I will have to be prepared before I approach him. But right now I don't have anything in mind. Haven't thought what I am going to do next."

Asked about Johar's special appearance in the film, he said: "You will have to watch the film to know the answer."

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Salaam-E-Ishq: A Tribute to Love