ZEE5’s Saali Mohabbat has quietly but firmly emerged as one of the platform’s most discussed thrillers, drawing attention for its restrained storytelling, psychological complexity, and layered performances.
Directed by Tisca Chopra in her directorial debut and produced by Manish Malhotra, the film stars Radhika Apte and Divyenndu in pivotal roles and has been praised for resisting easy moral binaries while building slow, simmering tension.
As audiences continue to engage with the film’s emotional undercurrents, Tisca Chopra has opened up about the arduous journey behind bringing Saali Mohabbat to life — a process she describes as nothing short of transformative.
‘Manish And I Went Through Childbirth’
Reflecting on the film’s long and turbulent road to completion, Tisca likened the experience to an emotional and creative rebirth.
“Manish and I went through childbirth while trying to get this film off the ground. I believe this happens with every film, but for the two of us, it was happening for the first time,” she shared exclusively with News18 Showsha.
According to Tisca, just when things seemed to stabilise, fresh obstacles would emerge — a cycle that tested both patience and resolve.
“We were constantly like, ‘What is going on?’ We would wait for things to settle, and then one more thing would happen – back to back,” she said.
Casting Turmoil And Creative Anxiety
One of the most challenging phases during the film’s making was navigating repeated casting changes, driven largely by insecurity and shifting professional commitments.
“One actor came on board and then left because he got an international film. The next actor who came in made another actor anxious, and he walked out,” Tisca revealed.
Even when Divyenndu eventually signed on to the project, the instability didn’t immediately stop.
“When Divyenndu agreed to do the film, there was another actor cast as Pankaj, and he became so insecure that Divyenndu was part of the film that he decided to leave,” she added.
Despite these setbacks, the team persisted, holding on to the belief that the story deserved to be told exactly as envisioned.
Conviction That Translated On Screen
Today, Saali Mohabbat stands as a testament to that perseverance. What finally reached audiences is a film marked by emotional restraint, moral ambiguity, and performances that rely more on internal conflict than overt dramatics.
The reception has validated the struggles behind the scenes, reinforcing Tisca’s belief that patience and conviction are integral to meaningful cinema. The film’s immersive tone and psychological depth reflect not just narrative intent, but also the resilience that shaped its making.
Saali Mohabbat is currently streaming exclusively on ZEE5.
