Tisca Chopra reveals the creative struggles and personal challenges behind her directorial debut Saali Mohabbat: “We almost got divorced writing it”

Actor-turned-director Tisca Chopra has opened up about the challenges of directing her first film, Saali Mohabbat, starring Radhika Apte and Divyendu Sharma. In a candid conversation with Mid-Day India, she revealed that co-writing the film with her husband, Sanjay Chopra, brought intense creative differences that nearly affected their personal relationship.

 

Tisca Chopra reveals the creative struggles and personal challenges behind her directorial debut Saali Mohabbat: “We almost got divorced writing it”

 

Looking back on the experience, Tisca said, “Directing is an incredibly demanding job. It never really ends. You start your day with a volley of questions—like what should be the size of a car’s number plate, or whether an actor should shave his chest. If you don’t make a decision, people assume you’re unsure, so you just have to choose, even if it’s the wrong choice, and then work to make it right.”

 

She shared that writing the film alongside her husband, a former Air India pilot, became particularly challenging. “We almost got divorced while writing it. His approach to writing is robust, while mine is more subtle. The yin and yang of our styles eventually shaped the script nicely. Despite being advised to drop certain aspects early on, we pushed forward and completed it, making changes later during dubbing. I’m not a big fan of censorship—if at 18 you can vote, why shouldn’t you choose what you watch?”

 

About Saali Mohabbat

 

Saali Mohabbat was released on ZEE5 earlier this month. The film is described as a “genre-defining ‘how-dunnit’” thriller and features Radhika Apte as Smita, a small-town housewife whose seemingly ordinary life takes a dark turn filled with infidelity, deceit, and moral dilemmas. Divyendu Sharma, Anurag Kashyap, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sauraseni Maitra, and Sharat Saxena also play pivotal roles.

 

Produced by Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra’s Stage5 Production, the film received mixed reviews. According to Hindustan Times, it had “a promising premise but not enough bite. Tisca’s attempt at a slow-burn thriller had moments that drew the audience in, but what could have been a layered whodunit settled for the obvious.”

 

Despite the challenges, Tisca’s directorial debut marks a significant step in her filmmaking journey, reflecting both her creative vision and resilience.

 

Also Read: Divyenndu reflects on his complex role in Saali Mohabbat; says, “We’re all grey in life”

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