Yash Raj Films have always created a dhoom at the box office.
Whether it was Dharmputra in the 1950s, Waqt in the 1960s, Daag (with which Yash Chopra broke away from his brother B R Chopra to form his own banner), Deewaar and Trishul in the 1970s, Chandni in the 1980s or Dil To Pagal Hai in the 1990s, the last five decades have had a Yash Chopra blockbuster.
So it is no surprise that his new directorial venture has raised huge curiosity worldwide.
Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji, the film is slated for a Diwali release. And the suspense over its title is finally over.
Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum was one of the titles Yash Chopra was seriously considering for his romantic film.
"It had that element of melody, romance and nostalgia which are integral to Yashji's new film," says a source at Yash Raj Films. "But we gave up that title reluctantly."
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A few days ago, the title Veer Dara was thrown at the curious audience. But that was a false alarm.
So what is the film called? It's Veer Zaara.
"Yes," confirms Sanjeev Kohli, CEO of Yash Raj Films. "The title was chosen after much deliberation."
The title is based on the names of the two protagonists in the film. Shah Rukh Khan plays Veera Pratap Singh, an Indian in love with a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayaat Khan, played by Preity Zinta.
Rani Mukerji plays Saamiya Siddiqui, a Pakistani lawyer, who tries to bring the lovers together.
In his first directorial venture in seven years (he last directed the blockbuster Dil To Pagal Hai in 1997), Yash Chopra pitches for a legendary love story in the tradition of Laila Majnu, Heer Ranjha and Sohni Mahiwal. Hence, the title suggests an ironical confluence of two lovers, who are destined to get separated.
Adding to the film's aura of passion and nostalgia is the music score by the late Madan Mohan, which is sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
Madan Mohan's son Sanjeev Kohli dug out more than 150 unused tunes that his father had composed and tailored them to today's tastes.
"It was the greatest creative challenge. Now, it is up to listeners to decide whether I have revived the era of the Madan Mohan-Lata Mangeshkar melodies," says Kohli.
The music will be released on Yash Raj Music on September 18.
"To be part of such a monumental music score is an honour," Preity says. "Yes, a great honour. I could not believe the quality of the melodies."
Adds Anupam Kher, "Lataji sounds as she did in the evergreen melodies of Madan Mohan."
The film also sees guest appearences from Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini.
The promos of the film are already out in theatres screening Yash Raj Films' new film, Dhoom, which releases today. The trailer starts with Rani standing in a court room, telling the audience about the two lovers, as the scene shifts to Shah Rukh and Preity singing in the rain. Later, we see Shah Rukh in a beard, looking helpess in jail.
