Jayprad Desai takes over from Vinil Mathew to direct the sequel to the Netflix hit Haseen Dillruba. Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba brings back Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey, with Sunny Kaushal being added to the mix. A t2 chat with the director about his film which is now streaming on Netflix.

What was it like entering the second film of a franchise when the first film, directed by someone else, has been much appreciated?

I was aware of the original film (Haseen Dillruba) and I was excited by the world and what the story promised this time. It was a responsibility because it is a franchise that has a fan base already. But that is also the challenge. I thought it would be wonderful for me to take this further in terms of flamboyance and excitement and make it bigger in terms of the experience and the enjoyment that the audience will have. I took it as a challenge.

What was your impression of Haseen Dillruba?

I was intrigued by the world of the film, which is something our audience is not acquainted with much. This is pulp fiction with romance and adventure and has twisted, ambiguous protagonists who are not always right. But what is exciting about them is that they mirror us to some extent... we all have gone wrong in life in different ways.

I was extremely intrigued by this new palette being offered to Indian audiences and I am heartened by the fact that it has been acknowledged and appreciated.

Are you a fan of pulp fiction?

Absolutely! I quite like Hindi pulp fiction, much of which one would find in in these inexpensive books sold at railway stations. They have a good fan base in India, especially in the North. The protagonists are twisted but they have a magnetic appeal which makes you root for them. They are worryingly easy to root for. But that is why it is fun because, there is a bit of that in all of us. Or at least there is an aspiration to do the forbidden, to cross the line.

Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba is edgier and darker than the first film. The comedic elements are fewer. Did you pitch in with your inputs to writer Kanika Dhillon?

Things get serious in the second film. In the first film, they (Rani, played by Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey’s Rishu) were married, she was shown adjusting to her new home and the comedy came from her interactions with her mother-in-law. Things were quite light at that time.

She gets into trouble after she falls for Neel (played by Harshvardhan Rane) and the affair begins. It wasn’t funny after that. Problems increase in the sequel and worse things happen to our couple and it gets darker and edgier. The thrill has been to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, to keep one guessing every second.

What do Taapsee and Vikrant bring to their parts?

Rani is the femme fatale who everyone is attracted to. You know you will burn yourself if you go too near her but you can’t stop yourself. Taapsee has that magnetic power, as a performer and a person. Rishu’s passion is his silent strength. That is also attractive and that’s why Rani is drawn to him. Vikrant brought that out beautifully.

In the second film, we have Abhimanyu (played by Sunny Kaushal), who is also passionate, but his passion gets transformed into menace.

All three are very competent actors. Vikrant has found himself again with 12th Fail and gone to the next level. Sunny is an actor to watch out for, especially in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba.

What is next for you?

I am doing a film about a con man. The script is about to be finished. I am excited about it.