Don`t go by the name, Sonam Kapoor and Imran Khan starrer `I Hate Luv Storys` is totally pro-love, says young director Punit Malhotra, who has given a "fun treatment" to the much ridiculed Bollywood romances.
Punit is confident that the film, about a young man who falls in love despite being cynical about the whole concept, will find a connect with the audience.
"It is very young, fresh and totally pro-love stories. It is not anti-anything. We all have grown up watching Bollywood romances and no matter what we say, we connect to them somewhere. They may be soppy, cheezy but they are feel-good films. People do associate with them at some level," Punit told reporters.
"It is a take-off from romantic films of Bollywood in a very nice way. It is a little tongue-and-cheek way of looking at all the romantics films and stories," he adds.
The film, produced by Karan Johar`s Dharma productions, hits theatres this July.
At 28, he may seem too young to handle the intricacies of filmmaking, but Punit, nephew of fashion desinger Manish Malhotra, is a veteran when it comes to working behind the camera.
He has assisted director-producer Karan Johar on blockbusters like `Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham`, `Kal Ho Naa Ho`, `Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Amol Palekar on ‘Paheli’ and Tarun Mansukhani on `Dostana` as creative director.
"I wanted to turn director couple of years back but for
some reasons I did not get into it. But I have gone all out with this film. I don`t think I am too young for direction," says Punit, who slogged behind the camera for close to ten years.
His closeness with the lead actress of his film has sparked romance rumours but the director rubbishes such reports.
"I don`t know where it came from. It is total rubbish. People come and say anything and go away. You can laugh at times and get irritated at times but can do nothing about it.
In fact, it was Sonam, who told me to keep my cool about such rumours," he says.
The young filmmaker says he did consider acting at one point of time but was so possessive about his story that he did not want anyone else to direct it.
He also believes that the best thing that happened to the project was the golden pairing of young heartthrobs Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor.
"Imran and Sonam make a good pair. They look stunning together and that is the USP of this film. In fact, barring few exceptions, no one in the crew was above the age of 30. We were a young team and had a different approach to things which has translated into a great onscreen chemistry," he adds.
Following two duds --`Kidnap` and `Luck`, Imran returns back to the romantic genre after his successful debut `Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa`and going by the promos, the actor looks comfortable in his skin.
A lot is at stake for Sonam too. Despite being praised for her beauty and vivaciousness, the actress has not been able to register a hit with `Saawariya` and `Delhi 6`.
Punit says Johar, despite his expertise in rom-coms, did not interfere with the project.
"Karan read the very first draft and he was like `you should make this film`. Apart from getting his name involved, he told me what were the right components in the romantic comedy. But he was very fair at no point he would interfere.
He just told me what the film needed and backed off after a point. He let me be in my own skin," he adds.