Jio Studios/Stage5 Production

Manish Malhotra, Tisca Chopra’s ‘Saali Mohabbat’ Set for World Premiere at IFFI Goa (EXCLUSIVE)

by · Variety

Jio Studios and Stage5 Production’s suspense drama “Saali Mohabbat” will make its world premiere at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

Fashion maven Manish Malhotra is making his producer debut with the film. The film also marks acclaimed actor Tisca Chopra‘s first directorial venture. The film features an ensemble cast including Radhika Apte, Divyenndu, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sauraseni Maitra, Sharat Saxena and Anurag Kashyap.

The story follows a housewife embroiled in a tale of infidelity, deceit and murder. “With Stage5 Production, my aim is to create cinematic experiences that are gripping and thought-provoking,” said Malhotra. “The moment I read the script of ‘Saali Mohabbat,’ I was drawn to its intense and thrilling narrative.”

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Chopra added: “’Saali Mohabbat’ is a story close to my heart, and I’m incredibly grateful to Manish Malhotra and Jio Studios for trusting in my vision and supporting my journey as a director. I hope audiences connect with its raw emotion and suspense and I couldn’t be more excited to present it at IFFI, a festival that celebrates diverse and bold voices in cinema.”

Jyoti Deshpande, president of media and content business at Reliance Industries, sees the project as a natural evolution for Malhotra. “With ‘Saali Mohabbat,’ Manish extends his legacy of creativity, now crafting stories that captivate just as his designs have,” she notes.

Jio Studios-backed “Stree 2” and “Singham Again” are among the biggest Bollywood hits of 2024.

“At Jio Studios, we are committed to championing compelling narratives, and ‘Saali Mohabbat’ is a thrilling and layered story that aligns with our mission to present unique stories from India,” Deshpande said. “We’re honored to debut this film at IFFI and reinforce our dedication to meaningful storytelling.”

The IFFI premiere on Nov. 22 is expected to feature a red carpet attended by producers Deshpande and Malhotra, director Chopra, and actors Divyenndu and Pushkar. The film is produced by Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra and Manish Malhotra.

IFFI runs Nov. 20-28 and the concurrent South Asian film market, Film Bazaar, Nov. 20-24.