EXCLUSIVE: Milap Zaveri ECSTATIC with Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’s success: “Harshvardhan Rane has given me one of my BIGGEST hits”; also reveals, “We shot the film in JUST 35 days…”

By Fenil Seta -

October 25, 2025 - 4:24 PM IST

One of the nicest persons in the industry, Milap Zaveri, is on cloud nine, and rightfully so. His Diwali release, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, has emerged as a huge hit despite the challenges faced by the makers. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Milap Zaveri spoke about the film, screen-sharing issues and a lot more.

EXCLUSIVE: Milap Zaveri ECSTATIC with Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’s success: “Harshvardhan Rane has given me one of my BIGGEST hits”; also reveals, “We shot the film in JUST 35 days…”

How has been the last few days for you?
It has been absolutely surreal. I am still pinching myself. You know my journey. The last four years have been very tough. When our teaser, the title song and all other units dropped and got accepted, we got an idea that we would fetch a decent opening. But aisi opening legi, yeh toh kisi ne nahin socha tha (laughs). Even the industry and trade didn't anticipate it. The opening was extraordinary but the sustenance over the last four days has been commendable.

I have been accused by my own friends that my films work only in mass centres. This one seems to have worked in multiplexes as well. So, it feels amazing and my phone has not stopped ringing. I have been flooded with messages from people of the industry.

I guess the victory is even sweeter as we were against all odds. Until Friday, we didn't have a presence in single screens when the fact is that this is such a single screen film. So, imagine, for the first three days, the single screens were deprived and not allowed to put up this film!

What is saddening is that if the film had got the required single screens, it would have maybe opened at Rs. 12-13 crores...
Yes. This proves the power of content and music. It shows the power of Harshvardhan Rane. Everyone underestimated him. He has always been loved, not just for Sanam Teri Kasam, but also for Taish, Haseen Dillruba, Tara vs Bilal, Dange etc. Sanam Teri Kasam re-release was akin to dam ka fatna. Uske baad toh sailaab aana hi tha!

Sonam Bajwa also has such a big fan following, in India and overseas. I must also mention our producers Anshul Garg and Raghav Sharma. I call Anshul as 'Sher Garg'. He had the courage to make the film. He came on board 7-8 days before the film went on floors. We didn't have a financier or studio. We were running out of time. I had to leave for the shoot of Mastiii 4. Harshvardhan had to start his next film. We were struggling for funds. This is when Anshul and Raghav came on board. They mounted this film within just 7 days though it was their first film. Even though it was made on tight budget, they did their best to give us whatever possible in their limited means.

So, yes, if we had the single screens from day 1, it's unimaginable what the numbers could have been. I am sure that eventually, we'll catch up. Sunday could be our biggest day.

Tuesday would be huge due to the discounted ticket offer...
Yes and Chhath Puja falls on Monday. It is widely celebrated in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, both of which are my strongest centres.

At what point did Harshvardhan Rane came on board?
Sanam Teri Kasam re-relased on February 7. On February 9, I messaged him, asking if I could narrate the script of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. To his credit, he immediately let me. He told me, 'Sir, I have a lot of belief in your commercial sensibilities. I always wanted to work with you'. As soon as he heard the script, he was on board. He did not dilly-dally or act like a star though it was the biggest time of his career. Yet, he was so humble and down-to-earth. I was, obviously, coming off from a big flop (Satyameva Jayate 2; 2021). I had two films in my pipeline but I was also completely in the back foot. Yet, he immediately gave his nod. On February 14, that is, 5 days later, we announced the film.

How did you keep the costs controlled? What is the secret?
I want to give credit to a lot of people, starting with Anshul Garg followed by Raghav Sharma. They told me that if we shot it in Mumbai, it'll be very expensive. Hence, they suggested that we'll shot whatever is required in Mumbai while the rest of the portions will be filmed in Chandigarh. The final scene of Ramlila and a few more scenes were shot in Chandigarh as it allowed us to build a grand set at a lesser cost as labour, junior artists etc. There are cheaper. They also had know-how of that place as they have shot 200 music videos in that region.

My whole crew was great, be it my DOP Nigam Bomzan, my creative director and choreographer Adil Shaikh, Remo who did one of the songs etc. My art direction team, my ADs, my production designers etc. all reduced their prices. The same goes to my brother and editor, Maahir Zaveri. They all slashed their fees and came on board to make it happen for me. No budget in the world can equal that goodwill!

This is one of the big factors in ensuring the film looks the way it does that too in a budget.

How many days did you shoot the film in?
35 days. I shot the film in 30 days while we took 5 days to shoot ‘Bol Kaffara’ and ‘Dil Dil’.

Songs are the film’s USP. How much time did it take to get music?
There's a reason why we have mentioned 'An Anshul Garg musical' in the credits. He has provided me with all the songs. He gave me several options and I chose the best among them. ‘Bol Kaffara’ was already in DMF's catalogue since three years. But they never shot a video of it. I was lucky to have got it for the film.

We were not getting any song for Sonam's entry. Anshul asked me to go through the songs of Believe. The moment I saw 'Dil Dil Dil', I told him that I wanted this song. He moved mountains to get the track for the film!

‘Khoobsurat’ was a surprise...
We didn't promote it as we didn’t want to show happiness before the release (laughs). Humko dard hi bechna tha. Toh humne Khushi dikhayi hi nahin. I am sure that 'Khoobsurat' will also pick up now.

Who all from the industry congratulated you?
Sajid Nadiadwala sir, Sajid Khan and called me. Akshaye Widhani of YRF called me. Mohit Suri has always been a huge support. Tiger Shroff called me while Varun Dhawan messaged me. Aditya Roy Kapur messaged me and so did Lakshya. Ayushmann Khurrana chatted. We wished each other. Sanjay Gupta called. Indra Kumar congratulated me and so did Bhushan sir and Shiv Chanana sir.

John Abraham’s support has been heartening...
He has been the biggest support. He was the brand ambassador for the film. I would like to believe that he did for me but he did it more for Harshvardhan.

Someone told me that I have given John his biggest solo hit in the form of Satyameva Jayate (2018). I have given Sidharth one of the biggest solo hits in the form of Marjaavaan (2019). Now this is Harshvardhan’s biggest hit. But the fact is that John gave me my biggest hit! Sidharth Malhotra face me one of the biggest hits. And now Harshvardhan Rane has given me one of my biggest hits!

Another huge support is Riteish Deshmukh. I am indebted to him. He’s the one who told Indra Kumar that he’ll work in Mastiii 4 only if I direct it (smiles).

Speaking of Mastiii 4, that’s your next release...
Yes. It’s releasing next month. Tera Yaar Hoon Main hopefully would release in December. So, I’ll have three releases in three months!

Mastiii 4 has turned out to be one of the funniest films of the series. As for Tera Yaar Hoon Main, Aman Indra Kumar and Akanksha Sharma are two of the most talented people I have worked with. It’s a film closest to my heart.

Also Read: Harshvardhan Rane on the success of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, “99% of the film industry laughed and mocked my decision of doing this film”