Exclusive: Juhi Chawla Talks About Her Latest Film “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” & Upcoming Projects!

This Bollywood sweetheart has charmed the audience with her standout performances from her debut film “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” to the eagerly awaited unique love story of 2019, “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga”. Juhi Chawla is just as down to earth as you always assumed.

She has donned various hats in her long cinematic career. Chawla was introduced to the glamour industry after she won the Miss India title in 1984. She has, since then, had an impressive roster of roles. She has worked as a model, film producer, reality show judge, host and more. She has even owned and invested in the IPL Team- Kolkata Knight Riders.

With her latest film, “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” releasing on February 1, 2019, we had a chance to catch up with the superstar herself on her comeback film. Check out the interview to find out everything Juhi Chawla had to tell us!

DissDash: It’s very exciting to see you on screen again. How are you feeling?  Are you excited?

Juhi Chawla: I am really looking forward to this film. It’s a wonderful script. I think it must have translated beautifully on screen. I am just waiting to see how the audience react to it.

DissDash: Were you nervous as Shelly is a new director or did you have full faith that she’ll bring her vision to life?

Chawla: My goodness, Shelly has co-written the entire script so well. It’s very rare that you come across a script that is just fantastic. It has every element that you look for in a good film, a wholesome film. It is entertaining, surprising; its fun; has a love story, and it also takes you on an emotional high. So all these elements were put together so well that it made me feel ‘Wow! It’s a good script.’ So somebody who has written the script so well definitely knows their job. Shelly has done editing and made documentary films as well. So she is a very capable director.

DissDash: From the trailer, the film looks like an amazing family film.

Chawla: Yes, it has got a lot of elements, emotions, and situations that you’re familiar with like family, friendship, and love. I’d like to quote the late filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee. He used to say that there are two ways of filmmaking. One is to tell a familiar story in an unfamiliar way and the other is to tell an unfamiliar story in a familiar way. “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” falls in the latter category.

DissDash: Do you think that this is because it is a new topic for the Indian audience, but in a more relatable context?

Chawla: It is a relatable movie from the first scene itself. That is why I am looking forward to the audience reaction to it. I would love to do more interviews after the film has been released to discuss how the audience has received the film.

DissDash: How do you feel being back on screen with Anil Kapoor?

Chawla: It is always a pleasure to work with Anil ji. It is also great to work with artists who are so talented and committed to the film. I have enjoyed working with him, but I have also enjoyed working with Sonam and Rajkummar, and seeing Sonam and Anil ji work together. It is the first time for them and I am glad to have been able to observe and learn from each one of them.

DissDash: What do you want the audience to take away from the film?

Chawla: I don’t want to have a take away as such. I want the audience to love the film. They should be able to come out of the theater with a feeling of “Wow, we had a great time!” The film will say what it has to in the way that it has been crafted. It is one of the most beautifully written films that I have worked on. So all I want to tell the audience that is a wonderful film and that they should watch it.

DissDash: So far the response to the trailer of the film has been incredible. So the film is expected to have jam-packed audiences.

Chawla: I hope so, I am looking forward to the audience reaction. I know the story inside out, but I want to see how the audience will react to it when they see it for the first time and what it evokes in them.

DissDash: What do you have planned after this?

Chawla: Last October, I had planned an untitled film with Rishi Kapoor ji based in New Delhi and had a cute character in it. It was to be produced by Honey Trehan and directed by Ritesh Bhatia. But just before the shoot was scheduled, Rishi ji’s health deteriorated so the schedule has been pushed to when he comes back. A week ago I was also approached for an interesting action thriller. We’ll see how it goes when that happens.

DissDash: How’d you say your journey has been from “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” till now?

Chawla: It has been wonderfully long and eventful with many ups and downs. Mostly I am grateful for having the opportunities that I did. I did not grow up thinking I’ll be an actress. But I have been given some extraordinary chances in life. I believe God took me to the right places at the right time. Looking back, I feel I took some foolish decisions when I was doing well, but it only made me wiser. Overall it has been a merry ride.

DissDash: We are such huge fans of QSQT and are looking forward to seeing you on screen again.

Chawla: For an artist, there is nothing better than to have an amazing script and good film to make a comeback with. I just hope that the audience reacts in the same manner as I did when I had heard the script for the first time.