Siddharth P. Malhotra on Kamal and Meena: 'Not an arthouse film, but a commercial spectacle'

Siddharth P. Malhotra is directing a love story based on actual events, following in the footsteps of films like his Netflix film Maharaj, which propelled Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan to stardom. He is planning to film the unreleased romance between iconic actor Meena Kumari and filmmaker Kamal Amrohi.

Passionate and dramatic romance: Kamal and Meena

In an interview with ETimes, Malhotra said of the much-anticipated flick that his forthcoming project, Kamal and Meena, is a highly commercial film. Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi's love story is a dramatic one, filled with intense emotions and extraordinary situations. It's not a typical biopic or arthouse flick. Audiences will be enthralled by the passionate and captivating love story.

ALSO READ: Kiara Advani to play Meena Kumari in upcoming biopic Kamal aur Meena? Here's what we know 

Malhotra is ecstatic that this film, in contrast to Maharaj, will hit theatres before another Bollywood thriller.

The filmmaker also said that maybe in a month or two, he will announce another film. Believe him when he says this is the most commercially orientated film he has worked on so far. He claimed that "Wow, Sid is doing this?" will be a common reaction from onlookers upon hearing the news. Malhotra was born into the film industry; his grandpa was Premnath. Commercial cinema is in his blood.

He carries on by saying that actually, Maharaj was a highly commercial film. The fact that it premiered on an OTT platform instead of a traditional theatre run does not diminish its monetary success. A testament to its popularity, it received over 21 million views.

Exploring the long-form format with Doctors

Having previously worked in film and television, the filmmaker ventured into the world of web series with Doctors, which is currently available for streaming on JioCinema (OTTplay Premium). 

Malhotra had worked in television as a producer, overseeing more than 30–40 series, and he spoke about how he connected with the extended storytelling style. While he hasn't yet directed an OTT series, he has helmed several films. But the filmmaker has been cranking out long-form work, including seven or eight over-the-top episodes. Whether it's a short narrative or a lengthy epic, he thinks the story itself determines the best format. While some stories work better condensed into a few hours, others call for the breathing room and in-depth exploration that a series provides.

Storytelling over medium

As a filmmaker, Malhotra connects with both formats as long as the story is compelling and has enough depth to sustain its length. Passion for storytelling is more important than the medium itself, in the end. Whatever one is making, be it a feature film, web series, or short film reel, the most important thing is that they believe in the story they are presenting.

ALSO READ: Manish Malhotra not to direct Meena Kumari's biopic starring Kriti Sanon? Fashion designer reveals