Imtiaz Ali calls Love Aaj Kal 2 a “useless experiment”; reveals original title for Kartik Aaryan-Sara Ali Khan starrer was Reverse

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali talked about how the movie Love Aaj Kal didn't turn out the way he wanted. He said it was like an experiment that failed. Right now, he's working on promoting his new film, Main Vaapas Aaunga. He shared some honest thoughts about the challenges he faced while making the 2020 romantic movie that stars Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan.

Imtiaz Ali called Love Aaj Kal 2 a "useless experiment" and mentioned that the original title for the movie with Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan was Reverse.

 In an interview with Zoom, he said he was excited about the story at first, but later realized the movie might not have needed to be connected to the original Love Aaj Kal.

He explained, "In Love Aaj Kal 2, I did that because I already had the story, and I was excited about it.

 It didn't work is a different matter. Love Aaj Kal 2 also told me that this is a useless experiment because it's not even a viable project, if you don't want to make it. Love Aaj Kal 2 was a story in itself. I could have made a different story."

He also said he had considered naming the film Reverse instead of Love Aaj Kal 2, but eventually decided to use the franchise title.

 He felt that decision might have changed what people expected from the film. "There was a time when I was thinking about making a different story and not calling it Love Aaj Kal 2. I was calling it Reverse. But later on it was decided that maybe it would be better to call it Love Aaj Kal 2, which was not a big service to the film," Imtiaz said. He added, "The fact that it needs to be a commercially viable, profitable project is not what will keep me excited for it for two years."

Love Aaj Kal, released in 2020, was meant to be a spiritual successor to his 2009 film of the same name, starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone.

 However, the film received mixed or negative reviews when it first came out.

Interestingly, Sara Ali Khan also talked about how the film's failure affected her confidence as an actor.

 In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama in 2021, she admitted that the film's reception made her feel emotionally down.

She shared, "After two weeks of Love Aaj Kal, I was on the sets of Atrangi Re, and my confidence was not that high.

 Aanand Ji taught me how to be confident, Aanand Ji taught me how to love myself, Aanand Ji taught me how to love my character, Aanand gave me a new chance at a time I most needed it."

She added, "Aanand Ji taught me not to carry the baggage of failure or success with me and be present there at the moment and go out and play on the front foot and do my best.

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Meanwhile, Imtiaz Ali is now focusing on Main Vaapas Aaunga, a romantic drama set against the backdrop of Partition.

 The film stars Vedang Raina, Sharvari, Diljit Dosanjh, and Naseeruddin Shah in important roles. The movie is set to release on June 12.