Divya Khossla: Watching Yaariyan is like viewing a masterpiece

Key Takeaways

Divya Khossla faced significant challenges while filming.
The film Yaariyan was shot in stunning locations like Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Every frame was intentionally designed to look like a painting.
Balancing motherhood and filmmaking was particularly difficult for her.
The film achieved massive box office success and received great love from audiences.

Mumbai, March 21 (NationPress) Director Divya Khossla has reminisced about the most arduous yet fulfilling experiences during the production of her film “Yaariyan,” which she describes as resembling a painting.

Released in 2014, Yaariyan features Himansh Kohli, Rakul Preet Singh, Nicole Faria, and Evelyn Sharma. The narrative follows Lakshya, Jiya, Saloni, Pardy, and Neil, students in a college located in Sikkim, who strive to win a competition to prevent property developers from demolishing their campus.

“I believe that filmmaking is exceptionally challenging, and Yaariyan was particularly tough. I aimed to discover locations that had never been filmed before—pristine spots—leading me to Sikkim and Darjeeling,” Divya explained.

The director recounted “ascending mountain peaks, journeying deeper and higher in search of locations unseen on screen. And when you view Yaariyan, it indeed resembles a painting. Each frame—I meticulously designed them to appear like a painting.”

“The entire filmmaking journey was incredibly demanding. Furthermore, I was also a new mother—my child was merely six months old when I began filming.”

Reflecting on the past decade, she acknowledges the difficulty of balancing motherhood and directing a film.

“That was the most challenging aspect. Yet, the most gratifying part was undoubtedly the affection the audience showered upon it. It achieved remarkable financial success at the box office and became a massive blockbuster.

Discussing the re-release of Yaariyan, Divya stated: “The audience expressed immense love for Yaariyan upon its initial release, filling my heart with joy. The re-release is my way of giving back to the audience who embraced it so wholeheartedly.”

“I recall filming my second movie, Sanam Re, in Ladakh—in a secluded area with barely anyone around—when some tourists stumbled upon me. A girl approached and told me she had watched Yaariyan 56 times. I was utterly amazed! That’s the kind of love I experienced.”

She noted that even during the promotional events for Yaariyan 2, as they visited colleges, Divya could sense the nostalgia people held for Yaariyan.

“My heart has genuinely been filled with this love. Naturally, the film launched me as a director and marked the beginning of my journey in the industry, so I am profoundly grateful to the audience for their affection and support,” she added.