Imtiaz Ali admits Love Aaj Kal sequel “lacked freshness”; says, “The ease of the film was compromised”

Renowned filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently opened up on the underwhelming performance of Love Aaj Kal (2020), starring Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan, during an insightful conversation on the YouTube channel Game Changer. The director candidly admitted to missteps in the film’s execution, offering a glimpse into his creative process and the lessons he’s taken from the experience.

Love Aaj Kal Lost Its Ease In the interview, Imtiaz acknowledged that he tried to pack too much into Love Aaj Kal, a successor to his 2009 hit of the same name starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. “I could have done 2-3 things differently,” he confessed, noting that the film’s ambitious scope compromised its simplicity. “The ease of the film was compromised. It became thick, people didn’t understand what happened. It seemed like this didn’t come from the heart,” he explained. This lack of clarity, he believes, left audiences disconnected from the narrative—a stark contrast to the effortless charm of his earlier works.

The director also pointed out a critical flaw: the film lacked freshness. Despite featuring a new story and a younger cast in Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan—two actors riding high on popularity at the time—Love Aaj Kal failed to capture the magic of its predecessor or resonate with viewers. Released on Valentine’s Day 2020, the film received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, marking a rare stumble in Imtiaz’s otherwise celebrated career. No Blame on Kartik and Sara Notably, Imtiaz refrained from attributing the film’s failure to its lead actors. Kartik Aaryan, fresh off successes like Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, and Sara Ali Khan, who had debuted with Kedarnath, were seen as a promising pair, especially amid rumors of their off-screen romance during filming. However, Imtiaz’s critique focused solely on his directorial choices rather than the performances of his cast.

Delving deeper, Imtiaz shared his thoughts on the challenges of making sequels. “Whenever a sequel is made, there must be a strong reason behind it,” he remarked. While he believed he had a compelling new story for Love Aaj Kal, he admitted that he failed to communicate its essence effectively—particularly during the film’s promotional phase. “In a way, yes. Though I had a new story in Love Aaj Kal 2, still, the film didn’t work,” he said. This realization has made him wary of revisiting his past successes unless the justification is undeniable. “Unless it is really necessary, I am not interested in making sequels,” he added.

That said, Imtiaz left the door ajar for future possibilities, hinting at a potential exception. “But never say never—Rockstar 2 may be nice,” he concluded with a glimmer of optimism, sparking curiosity among fans of his 2011 cult classic starring Ranbir Kapoor.

Also Read: Sharvari to join hands with Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina for an Imtiaz Ali directorial: Report

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