Director Milap Zaveri defends the shocking interval twist in ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ where Sonam Bajwa’s character offers a night with her to whoever kills Harshvardhan Rane’s character. Zaveri explains it’s a powerful, empowering move for the heroine, using her beauty and fame to fight an adversary, aligning with the idea that all is fair in love and war.
Writer–director Milap Zaveri is known for injecting shock value, emotional drama, and bold thematic choices into his films. His romantic drama ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’, starring Sonam Bajwa and Harshvardhan Rane, is no exception. The film’s interval point which was also showcased in the trailer of the film had become the centre of widespread discussion due to its explosive twist-one that pushes the boundaries of mainstream Hindi cinema. Zaveri spoke exclusively to Etimes about this poignant scene.What is the ‘indecent proposal’ scene?At the halfway mark of the story, Sonam Bajwa’s character walks onto a stage and makes a stunning declaration: whoever kills Harshvardhan Rane’s character will get to spend a night with her. The line has sparked debate, with reactions ranging from shock to admiration.Milap Zaveri clarifiesMilap Zaveri, however, stands firmly by the creative choice. Explaining the intention behind the moment, he shared a detailed reflection on how the interval point was conceived and why he always believed it would become the film’s talking point.Zaveri says, “Right from day one of inception of the idea when Mushtaq Sheikh and I wrote it, the interval point was the turning point of the story.It was the USP of the idea, I always knew it will get its share of discussion. But I knew that most of the country would think it’s a very unique (2:46) and very powerful point of the plot. And,in a way, it also empowers Sonam’s character. Because very rarely in mainstream Hindi cinema, you see a heroine with such a strong role, with such a strong point of view and such a strong interval point,.”“So I was never worried about it.I always knew it’s going to shock people, but it’s also going to be accepted.And a huge section is going to love it also. Also I don’t make films for morality, I make films for entertainment. And there’s nothing immoral, she’s using her power, which is her beauty and her fame to take on somebody who she’s not able to otherwise fight. They say everything is fair in love and war , so this was that for her. So I never found anything morally wrong in what stance she takes her interval” he added.Zaveri’s defence makes it clear that the controversial offer made by the heroine is not meant to be gratuitous but is instead deeply embedded in the story’s emotional logic and power dynamics. The film has been very well received by the audience as it went on to collect Rs 78.86 crore in 35 days at the box office.
