SPORTING ENCOUNTER

SHARAN SHARMA WAS IN THE NEWS RECENTLY FOR MAKING A SPORTS BASED ROMANTIC COMEDY MR. & MRS. MAHI. HE TALKS TO SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AND MORE...

- SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY

Sharan Sharma, a rising director in Bollywood, has captivated audiences with his nuanced storytelling and deep-seated narratives. As the director behind the critically- acclaimed films Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, Sharan has carved a niche for himself in portraying compelling human stories that strike a chord. His journey began as an assistant director on hits like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, where he honed his craft under mentors like Karan Johar. His affinity for womenled stories is well appreciated for their interwoven themes of aspiration, determination and familial bonds.

His latest venture, Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, blends a passion for cricket with the intricacies of marital dynamics. Sharan knows that for Indians, cricket is akin to religion, so making a cricketbased film was a nobrainer. He wanted to make a film on how cricket forges relationships. The director explains, “We wanted to explore how cricket transforms two strangers into a romantic couple.” And going by the love coming his way, he seems to have succeeded. He was bowled over by the love shown to Mr. & Mrs. Mahi. “I feel relaxed and happy with how the reactions are coming through for the film,” he reflects. “I was quite calm during the release as well. I am at peace with how the audience has reacted to the film and given us positive vibes that we are holding on to.”

The title of the film was intriguing, leading some to believe that the film showcased the romance between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Sakshi. Sharan laughs at that, “The journey of coming up with the title is something that happened naturally. He reveals. “In my head, I was thinking the title was to be