The romance and nostalgic atmosphere of 1990s love stories will return in a contemporary setting through the upcoming web film Mission DDLJ (Dhrubo Diya’s Love Journey).
Produced for iScreen, the romantic comedy takes some inspiration from Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic romantic films, but director Asif Jahangir Arko has stressed that it is not a direct copy.
Speaking at a press conference at the iScreen office on Saturday, Arko said, “Those of us born in the 1980s and raised in the 1990s inevitably grew up with Shah Rukh Khan’s films influencing our ideas of love and romance. So, yes, you will find some inspiration from his films in Mission DDLJ. But we have not copied anything directly.”
He added that the reason behind the film’s title also has a hidden meaning that audiences will discover while watching it.
According to the director, the kind of love stories that shaped an earlier generation are rarely seen in contemporary entertainment.
However, projects that recreate the flavour of those stories often attract audiences.
“We grew up watching a certain kind of love story, but we do not see many such stories today. Whenever elements of those old-fashioned romances appear in new productions, audiences tend to enjoy them,” Orko said.
The director said the film follows a contemporary couple who draw inspiration from 1990s romances to strengthen their relationship.
“I believe the current generation will enjoy this story, while today’s parents will also find something to appreciate in it,” he added.
Naovi and Labonno play the central characters in Mission DDLJ. Speaking at the event, both expressed confidence in the film’s concept.
Naovi said the concept immediately caught his attention and that he believes audiences will connect with the story.
Labonno said the 1990s-style romance would feel fresh to younger viewers and hoped they would enjoy the film.
Executive producer Ashek Hossain Tanmoy said the web film will also feature a gaye holud song.
The romantic comedy also stars Arman Bin Mahmud, Sadia Islam Jui, Shawkat Shovon, Masud Mahiyuddin, Shahana Afroz Swapna and Sharmin Sultana Shormi.
If everything goes according to plan, Mission DDLJ will premiere on iScreen towards the end of September.
