In his first encounter with Saurabh Shukla, Aparshakti Khurana was immediately captivated by the script for Jab Khuli Kitaab. Speaking to mid-day, he reflected on how this experience was quite different from the usual lengthy deliberations that occur when a director pitches a project to an actor. “Typically, this process can stretch over 5 to 10 days. But during my very first meeting with him, I declared, ‘Count me in, I’m all yours.’ The purity of his writing made it an easy decision for any actor involved to say yes,” he reveals.
Khurana admires Shukla’s commitment to the film, which took nearly a year and a half to complete, noting that the director even paused his acting career to focus on this project. “Hats off to him for dedicating almost two years of his life to write and direct, along with handling the post-production work, all while being a busy actor himself. It’s a demanding process to turn down other film offers and the financial rewards that come with them. I don’t know many actors who could accomplish that,” he adds.
On set, Khurana enjoyed the experience under Shukla’s direction, but the highlight was working alongside seasoned actors Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia, who star as the leads in this mature love story on ZEE5. “These two are legends. However, Saurabh sir fostered an atmosphere where everyone was treated as equals. Once you step onto the set, you become Advocate Negi and not Aparshakti. You focus solely on Gopalji (Kapur) and Anusuya (Kapadia), not the actors themselves. In this film, they need my expertise even more, so I felt a sense of pride there,” he chuckles. “It’s wonderful to collaborate with so many talented individuals. Amidst the chaos of action-packed blockbusters, this simplicity was essential for both the actors and the audience.”