Thamma director Aditya Sarpotdar, who also helmed the 2024 horror comedy Munjya, recently opened up about the film and how it was initially a different storyline. He revealed that Shraddha Kapoor was finalised to play a lesbian character named Bittu in the film, before he ultimately decided against it.
Aditya Sarpotdar on Sharaddha Kapoor in Munjya
Aditya, during an interview with Moviefied, shared, “This was the original story. Yogesh Chandekar, the writer, had written this film with a female perspective and a female protagonist. Bittu was a girl then. She’s in love with her best friend. She’s a lesbian. Nobody understands her. Only Rajji understands her. She tells Rajji, ‘I’m in love with my best friend, nobody would get that.’ And then, Munjya enters the picture, and she defends her best friend.”
He shared that initially, both Shraddha and Alia Bhatt were considered for the role of Bittu, which the Stree actress had even secured. Shraddha had also sone the look test for the film. However, the plan changed when the director came on board. Sharing his thoughts, he said, “I always feel that the core heart and the core narrative of a film should always be the same, not multiple. The audience doesn’t get too many things; they come to focus on only one, and that’s what they want.”
Aditya recalled that he felt the initial Munjya storyline needed a change. He shared how he realised that the most compelling arc involved comparing Munjya to a male Bittu. Both characters fall in love with women six years older; however, their approaches differ sharply. While Munjya turns desperately violent, Bittu chooses complete sacrifice for his love. Aditya added, “Then I suggested, ‘Can we do this?’ And the producer said, ‘Let’s do it.’ So, the whole perspective and the entire game changed after that.”
About Munjya
Munjya starred Abhay Verma, Sharvari, Mona Singh, Taran Singh, Suhas Johsi, Sathyaraj and others in pivotal roles. The film is about Bittu aka Abhay`s visit to is native village and his encounter with the evil monster Munjya. The monster wants to get married to his love interest, Bela, played by Sharvari. In the climax there is Bittu`s final confrontation with the villain to save Bela.