‘Let’s see how Preity Zinta will be dressed, then we’ll see where she lives’: Anil Mehta on not ‘quarrelling’ with Karan Johar’s priorities

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Anil said that if he would’ve pushed back against this approach, it would’ve reflected in the film. “You’re not there to get your brownie points, you’re there to service this vision. And if you do that well, the film works. So, I had conversations with Sharmishtha (Roy, Karan’s production designer) about how Kal Ho Naa Ho should be set. She’s the production designer, she’s worked more with Karan than I have, and I’m having an argument with her, trying to tell her how a Karan Johar film should look. She’s pushing me to say that let’s shoot in Brooklyn. Hold it, boss. Let’s see how Preity Zinta will be dressed first, which handbag will she be carrying, then we’ll say where she should live.”

In some ways, Anil said, Kal Ho Naa Ho is different from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, because ‘the director’s sensibilities are slightly different’. He continued, “It’s not that I’m anxious or underwhelmed by the fact that the drama scenes will not play as well. They will play as well. And here’s the thing, with films like these, the actors are carrying the tale much more than anybody else. And if you’re quarrelling with that, you’re not doing justice by the film.