Prolific Telugu-Tamil director Suresh Krissna is returning to his first love, another love story after decades, and the reason is Salman Khan. Explaining the incident that changed his career course, Suresh said in an exclusive conversation with us, “Some moments in life arrive unexpectedly and quietly change the course of your journey.““Last year, I happened to read an interview in which Salman Khan mentioned that one of his favourite films was ‘Love’, the film starring Salman and Revathi which I had directed many years ago in 1991,” he added.
One message from Salman Khan inspired Suresh Krissna to make a love story
Salman’s appreciative words deeply moved Suresh Krissna. “It touched me deeply. I somehow got his number from my earlier producer and sent him a simple message. Honestly, I never expected a reply. Time passed,” said the director.“Then came his birthday. I sent him my wishes once again. This time, he responded. His message was warm, affectionate and full of love. One line in particular stayed with me. He called me his favourite person. He wished me, my wife, and showered me with his love and good wishes. That one message meant more than words can express,” he expressed, before adding, “I have experienced countless memorable moments in my career. Yet, I must admit, Salman Khan’s heartfelt message gave me a joy and excitement that was truly special. It also made me pause and ask myself a simple question: Why not make another Hindi film?”
Suresh Krissna reflects on why he chose the romantic genre
After directing more than 45 films across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada cinema, and having had the privilege of working with legends like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Vishnuvardhan, Prabhas, Salman Khan and many other extraordinary actors, Suresh has decided to make a pure love story.
Suresh Krissna is all set to direct a pure love story with Mouni Roy in the lead
“Why not tell a love story? Cinema has always proved that some of the greatest love stories are created by filmmakers who have experienced life deeply. K. Balachander gave us the unforgettable ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’. Yash Chopra created timeless romances like ‘Chandni’. South Indian cinema, too, has produced evergreen love stories from directors who understood the true depth, beauty and pain of love,” he said, reflecting on why he chose the respective genre.“That thought stayed with me. I began writing. Slowly, I found myself falling in love with the story I was creating. When the basic idea was ready, I narrated it to producer Prerna Arora. She immediately connected with it and said, ‘I’m doing this film,’” shared the filmmaker.
The story behind getting Mouni Roy on board for the new love story
Further elaborating on the process, Suresh Krissna said, “I continued working until the screenplay was complete. When Prerna heard the finished script, her reaction gave me immense confidence. She felt it was a beautiful script, but one that needed an exceptional actress, someone who could carry the emotional weight of the central character with grace, beauty and conviction. As I began thinking about possible names, one face kept returning to my mind, Mouni Roy. There was something about her that felt absolutely perfect for the role.”Suresh and his producer Prerna Arora were on the same page.He told us, “Interestingly, without any discussion, Prerna independently suggested the very same name. We both instinctively felt that Mouni Roy was the ideal choice. She is mesmerising, elegant, and a wonderfully talented performer. Prerna arranged a narration. I narrated the script to Mouni. When I finished, her very first question was, ‘When are we starting?’ That was all I needed to hear. With Mouni Roy coming on board, the film has acquired an entirely new dimension.“The remaining casting is now underway, and some remarkable names are being discussed to complete the ensemble.“Besides love, my film will have a strong relevance to today’s world,” promised Suresh Krissna.
Suresh Krissna’s love note to Salman Khan
“As the project moves steadily towards production, I feel the same excitement I experienced while making some of my most cherished films. Life has a beautiful way of coming full circle. Many years ago, I directed ‘Love’ with Salman Khan. Today, inspired by his unexpected message, I find myself returning to Hindi cinema with another love story. And somewhere in my heart, I hope that when this film is complete, Salman Khan will love this ‘Love’ too,” he concluded.
