Mehra searches for today’s Mirza-Sahiban through his adaptation of Punjab’s love story

WATCH VIDEO: Interview With Mirzya Stars Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher And Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Mehra was in Panchkula on Thursday to promote his upcoming film, Mirzya, along with lead actors Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher, both of whom are making their debut with the movie. The film releases on October 7.

Set in two different eras, in a screenplay that runs back and forth in time, with “music that binds it like a spine”, Mehra’s Mirzya is not a reincarnation. According to him it is a modern day adaptation of the love story, a search for today’s Mirza-Sahiban.

As he takes the centerstage along with Kher and Kapoor at a hotel, Mehra shared how he began work on Mirzya before Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, researched extensively into history, philosophy, psychology of love, and above all, made the call to Gulzar to write the story for him.

“I called him (Gulzar) up to ask why Sahiban breaks the arrows, and he said, let’s find her and ask her,” Mehra said.

WATCH VIDEO: Take 5 With Saiyami Kher 

For Mehra, working with Gulzar who is writing for a film after 17 years, was being re-born as a director. On the other hand, picking a story from Punjab was natural, for the land is an ‘umbilical chord’ for Mehra.

“Everyone knows about Mirza-Sahiban here. It’s in the syllabus too. Yes, a lot has been said about the two, for instance their carnal love and unmarked and neglected graves, but then, why do we still sing their songs?” asked Mehra.

In his journey of discovering and processing love at a deeper level, on why we hurt someone whom we love the most, Mehra said the greatest love is that of sacrifice.

“Sahiban sacrifices what she loves the most,” Mehra said. Mirzya, he added, is his interpretation, not repetition.

WATCH VIDEO: Take 5 With Harshvardhan Kapoor 

“It’s also a true blue Indian musical narrated with song and poetry for poetry reaches where words cannot,” said Mehra.

For Kapoor and Kher, Mirzya is a dream debut. “I signed this film when I was 22, started it at 24 and now releasing it at 26,” said Kapoor.

Instinctive and patient, Kapoor said he could use his strengths to play this character that has quiet intensity, is mysterious and transitions magnificently from a boy to a man. “Mirza’s skill set as phenomenal rider and archer are his emotional core and that’s where Sahiban’s fear comes from,” he said.

Kher said this was a role anyone would die for. “I have auditioned for many films and they all ask four songs and 20 change of clothes. Mirzya was one that had a totally different emotional graph,” she said.

A non-linear narrative, Mehra’s Mirzya is a reflection of the folklore, a continuum that reaches a point where his lovers discover their conflict, when their paths cross and like live wires, spark.

“It’s an Indian story I want to tell the world,” Mehra said.