She knows what she wants and that is what I admire about her," says director-producer Farhan Akhtar of Reema Kagti, who makes her directorial debut with Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd (HTPL).
The film revolves around six couples who go on a packaged honeymoon tour to Goa, and stars Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Amisha Patel, Karan Khanna, Ranvir Shorey, Dia Mirza, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Sandhya Mridul and Vikram Chatwal.
Incidentally, Reema assisted Farhan in his earlier films, Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya.
"Her script is from the heart," Farhan adds. "She has dealt with a huge cast very responsibly. Since she was filming around the same time as I was filming Don, I did not have the chance of seeing her direct. Whatever I did hear about her is very positive."
For Reema, the shoot is a blur. "It was very hectic," she says. "The next time I do a film, I will go at an easier pace. There were so many locations. We were shooting quite a bit everyday in Goa. It's just a matter of managing the logistics of having so many actors everyday," she says.
"But every stage from scripting to promotions was an amazing experience. I am nervous but optimistic and excited to see what the response is going to be," she adds.
The first time director admits that her parents' honeymoon experiences have played a role in the making of the film.
"The basic idea of taking a honeymoon and treating it in a non-romantic unglamorous way came from my parents. They went on a bizarre honeymoon and I have grown up listening to those stories where pretty much everything went wrong," she adds.
But she hastens to add that HTPL is a charming comedy. "It is about love but not in the usual romantic mode. I have made an effort to de romanticise and deglamorise that aspect," she says. "It's a four-day trip that explores their relationship. Written in a radio show format called Pyar Ke Lamhe, the characters get to reveal secrets about their past and stuff like that."
Before the film makes it to the theatres, here's more on the six couples.
Interview: Priyanka Jain | Design: Uday Kuckian
Also read: The woman who almost made Farhan Akhtar act!