Sharan Sharma explains significance of 'Mr. & Mrs. Mahi' title
What's the story
The Bollywood film Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, featuring Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor, was released in the theaters on Friday. Directed by Sharan Sharma, the movie is a unique exploration of the support systems around achievers. In an interview with Mid-Day, Sharma revealed that the film, where both the husband and wife share the same name, is inspired by the story of Navjot Singh Siddhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu.
Film inspiration
Title inspiration and Dhoni's influence on the title
While the title might suggest a tribute to cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sharma clarified that it was inspired by the aforementioned couple. Sharma said, "The title comes from the endearing story about Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife [Navjot Kaur Sidhu] sharing the same name." "Once we came up with the title, we reached out to Dhoni for a go-ahead, and he responded with a yes quickly. I hope someday he will watch my movie."
Casting choices
Character development and casting decisions in the project
The film's narrative revolves around two characters named Mahi: Mahima, a doctor with cricketing talent, and her husband Mahendra, a failed cricketer. Sharma and his writing partner Nikhil Mehrotra created these characters without specific actors in mind. However, by the end of the writing process, Sharma felt Rao was a natural fit for the role of Mahendra. He praised Rao saying, "Raj can be called a gift to cinema, given his promise toward his craft."
Role preparation
Kapoor's transformation for 'Mr. & Mrs. Mahi'
Kapoor was selected to play the role of Mahima, based on her previous collaboration with Sharma in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020). Sharma praised Kapoor's innocence and dedication, making her ideal for the role. He commended her transformation saying, "She gave it her all, and became a cricketer from a person who knew nothing about the sport." "I needed an actor who would work hard and that's her biggest virtue."
Theme
Sharma wanted to explore love in arranged marriage setup
Further speaking about the film's theme, the director pointed out, "Usually, films focus on the achiever's glory, but we wanted to navigate the journey of the support system around him/her." "I found the idea of love [blossoming] in an arranged marriage endearing. These two have nothing in common and find their connection in cricket." The film also stars Zarina Wahab and Kumud Mishra.