'Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story' Starcast Kaveri Kapur and Vardhan Puri Speak Exclusively to ‘Mayapuri’

Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story: Recently released on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar, Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story has been receiving a great response. The film stars Vardhan Puri, the grandson of the legendary Amrish Puri, and Kaveri Kapur, daughter of Shekhar Kapur and Suchitra Krishnamoorthi. In an exclusive interview with Mayapuri’s journalist Shilpa Patil, Vardhan Puri, Kaveri Kapur, and director Kunal Kohli shared their thoughts on the film, their characters, and much more.

Could you tell us about the film and your characters? What makes its story special, and how can the audience relate to it?

Kaveri – The story has a lot of innocence and fun. It beautifully portrays young love, whether it’s heartbreak, drama, or chemistry; it covers everything. It’s truly about the essence of youthful love.

Vardhan – There’s something truly unique about this story that you don’t see in other films. It has a special moment tied to silence. Usually, romantic films are known for their dialogues, but in our film, silence speaks volumes. There’s a scene at the airport where we both remain silent, and that silence is filled with so much emotion. It’s one of those moments that makes a film memorable.

I remember Yash Ji once told me, “If you have to say ‘I love you,’ then the film still needs work.”

What’s the secret behind the chemistry in Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story? How did it come about?

Kaveri – We didn’t have to act at all; it just happened naturally. When we first met on set, within a few days, we became great friends, so we didn’t have to force anything. It all just came together effortlessly.

Vardhan – Yes, it was never forced. We thought we would give our best performances, but we didn’t expect that our friendship would grow so much that we wouldn’t need to act anymore. We just lived in the moment. Kunal sir always told us, "Don’t act, just live in the moment, feel the scene, feel the emotions." If you genuinely feel something, the camera will capture it.

How did you cast Kaveri and Vardhan for this story? And how did Rishi Kapoor’s name come into the film?

Kunal – First of all, I want to say that Mayapuri is a significant institution in our country’s journalism and history, contributing great content for decades. So, I congratulate Mayapuri on completing 50 years. It’s a historic institution. Wherever you go in the country, you’ll find Mayapuri. If you visit any magazine store, you’ll always find Mayapuri.

I believe love stories are like Mayapuri. We want our reach to be as wide as Mayapuri’s, spread across every corner of the country, just like Mayapuri’s readers are everywhere. Every love story of mine follows this idea. Love is a universal emotion, and everyone understands love, which is why I enjoy making love stories. As for the casting, I felt Kaveri and Vardhan had that innocence, which was perfect for the characters.

As for Chintu ji (Rishi), he’s an integral part of all my films. He’s been a part of three of my films and is a dear friend in my life. If you look at his Twitter account, his last tweet was for me. We shared a beautiful friendship, and this film was a small tribute to him.

You've been in the industry for a long time and have given some major hits. Looking at today’s cinema, there are fewer films that truly connect with the audience and become hits. What’s your take on this?

Kunal – The issue is that we aren’t making films with the entire country in mind. Someone once said that Bollywood makes films for Bandra and Juhu, and that’s not wrong. A lot of Bollywood films are limited to just these areas. Even I say the same, and what’s missing are blockbusters. Films like Stree, Animal, Gadar, and Pushpa are all blockbusters. I don’t like dividing cinema. This is the Indian film industry. You can’t say it’s only from Telugu, Tamil, or Bengali cinema.

What are your thoughts on the current phase of Indian cinema, especially with how the audience's tastes have changed?

Kunal – It’s a great time for cinema. In this era, you can make films like Pushpa or Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story, which we designed for OTT. If we had designed it for cinemas, it would have been different, with different elements, because the cinematic experience is different from the OTT experience.

I think it’s a great time. Pushpa earned 800 crores, Stree 600, and Gadar 500. What better time could there be? You can make a film on any subject. If it’s for non-theatrical, put it on OTT, and if it’s for theatrical, release it in theaters, and still achieve blockbuster numbers.

Will we be seeing a sequel to Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story?

Kunal – Yes, if the response is positive and Disney+ Hotstar feels there’s potential, we might see a sequel.

How has your experience been working with Kunal?

Kaveri – This was my first experience in acting, and I’m very grateful. The atmosphere on set was calm, which was important for me because if people get nervous, I get nervous too. I would sometimes hide behind a tree and cry if I had trouble with a dance sequence, and then Vardhan would help me out.

Vardhan – Kunal sir is an incredible creative partner. He gives everyone the freedom to contribute to the filmmaking process. Despite his success, he’s never secluded in his room. He always tries to understand the thoughts of younger minds and talks to everyone on set. His curiosity and understanding of youth help him connect with them. His daughter Radha is also very wise and inspires him.

What would you like to say to your fans?

Vardhan – To all my fans who support me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all, and I promise I’ll continue to entertain you.

What about trolling?

Vardhan – Well, if you’re doing work, criticism will follow. If someone says something nice, just say “Thank you,” and if they say something bad, either ignore it or apologize. Just keep focusing on your work.

Kaveri – As a public figure, I’ve always considered music and acting as my path. I knew there would be criticism, and I’m prepared for it. I respect it, but I also know that I must find ways to maintain my self-respect.

At the end of the interview, Kunal said, “I want my films to reach every corner of the world, just like Mayapuri.”

Vardhan added, “Talking to Mayapuri feels like talking to a family member. It feels like Mayapuri is my aunt, and it’s always going to be very emotional for me. Mayapuri will always stay in my heart.”

Bobby Aur Rishi Ki Love Story was released on February 11 on Disney+ Hotstar.