Vicky Kaushal felt butterflies in his stomach — a first-time experience for him ahead of a movie release — before Laxman Utekar’s romantic comedy Zara Hatke Zara Bachke hit theatres on June 2, the actor revealed during an interaction with media persons in Mumbai recently.

“Before Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, I had never felt nervous on a Thursday night. I was curious to know what would happen on Friday. Whether people will come to watch the film or not or whether they’ll like the film or not,” said the 35-year-old who plays the male lead Kapil Dubey in the film.

“I couldn’t sleep that night. All of us are trying to find the answer to what the audience wants to watch on the big screen. So, we were seeking validation from the audience this time,” Vicky said, sharing the thoughts he had ahead of the film’s release.

Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, also starring Sara Ali Khan, has collected more than Rs 30 crores in five days. The Maddock Films production is a story of a middle-class couple who take an unconventional route of getting divorced in order to get a home of their own.

“When the trailer of our film came out people were saying that it was a prime example that this film should have been released on OTT. I think the audience has truly shown their power and it is their victory. Laxman sir was very confident that the film’s story will connect with the audience. And we have experienced that in the last five days since the film’s release,” Vicky added.

The Masaan actor thanked producer Dinesh Vijan for taking the risk to release the film in theatres. “Dinu sir had all the logical reasons to bring this film on an OTT platform. But he took that risk to release Zara Hatke Zara Bachke in cinema halls. He has sat in the office till 3am in the last couple of weeks to ensure the film’s release. So, Dil Se thank you, Dinu sir.”

Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is director Laxman Utekar’s third film with Maddock films following Luka Chuppi (2019) and Mimi (2021). The director echoed Vicky’s sentiment and said, “We can make a good film but a good film needs to reach its target audience. The entire industry was thinking, ‘What will they do in fifteen days?’. Everyone has been silenced now. So, thanks to Dinu sir for showing everyone that a small film can also work in theatres when everyone was thinking that only big canvas films will work in cinemas.”

The film’s female lead Sara Ali Khan, who plays Somya Chawla Dubey, spoke about the Kedarnath connection with the release of the film. She said, “I was in Kedarnath with my friends enjoying vacation when Dinu sir called me and said, ‘Congratulations, I’m going to release your film on the big screen’. I really thought that I was going to make my debut again.”

“It was like a dream to watch myself on the big screen after many years. During the pandemic, I was wondering whether I’ll see my name on the big screen again. I believe in signs and positivity. My first film was Kedarnath and I was in Kedarnath when Dinu sir told me that he was going to release my film in theatres. I’m so grateful to him,” she added.