Sanjay Leela Bhansali's new film is a moving romantic feature that has taken the bold step of casting two scions of famous Bollywood clans as leads in their debut. 

THE upcoming Deepavali release Saawariya is not just the first Indian film produced by a Hollywood company – Sony Pictures – it also marks the debut of two bright young stars, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. They play the lead roles of star-crossed lovers in the musical movie. 

And nope, the two are unrelated though their names indicate Bollywood royalty and they have known each other since childhood. Ranbir, 25, is the son of renowned actor Rishi Kapoor, and a cousin of the actresses Karisma and Kareena Kapoor. Twenty-two-year-old Sonam is the daughter of Anil Kapoor, another prominent veteran. 

In Saawariya, Ranbir plays artist Raj, who meets a young woman with a past, Sakina (Sonam), in a chance encounter and they fall madly in love. Based on the short story White Nights by 19th century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, Saawariya (Beloved) recounts the passionate love affair over four successive nights. 

Will the audience be enchanted by the romance of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in Saawariya?

It's another tender yet powerful tale of love directed by the acclaimed Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whose most noted works include the blockbusters Devdas (2002) and Black in 2005. In a press release on the film's official website, Sanjay says: "For Saawariya I needed two young newcomers and I got them in Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Ranbir and Sonam are like my own children and the time spent with them gave me a fresh perspective on life and a new way to look at the movies. I suddenly feel alive once again." 

Its all-consuming love story aside, the film showcases sumptuous sets boosted by a haunting melody (soundtrack by Monty Sharma and Sameer) that are a trademark of Sanjay. The Hindi movie also has on its supporting line-up two of Bollywood's biggest names, Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee. 

 

The debutants 

In a recent interview, the fresh-faced and bushy-browed Ranbir expresses wonder at how two young individuals – Sonam and him – are currently at the same point in life sharing similar hopes and fears. This Deepavali will be very different and exciting for the duo as they will be watching with bated breath how audiences worldwide react to their acting debut in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali feature. 

Ranbir Kapoor plays Raj, a dreamy artist.

While they do not have the liberty to disclose much about the movie, the effervescent newbies readily agree to the interview at Ranbir's room – a higgledy-piggledy vision of closets pulled open, clothes on bed, files covering every inch of table. 

The only order amidst the chaos is a giant poster of Saawariya that occupies pride of place in the middle of the room.  

It's a clear sign of the owner's preoccupation with his first major work. 

Sonam begins in jest: "I don't have as much to live up to as Ranbir. He has the whole Raj Kapoor banner to hold up." (Raj, the late famous film director, is Ranbir's grandfather.) 

Sonam Kapoor is shy Sakina, who's been through much.

Her co-star feigns annoyance and asks: "Hey, why are you pressuring me so much?"  

Is it the kind of pressure that leads to sleepless nights? 

"No, we sleep a lot," says Sonam. And Ranbir goes: "That's going to sound terrible in print. You better rephrase it." But Sonam is too busy laughing to rephrase anything. 

As family friends who grew up together, the two are clearly at ease with each other. Ranbir is the voice of reason and calm while Sonam is quite the opposite – impulsive and emotional. Ranbir listens, Sonam talks. Ranbir thinks a thousand times before taking action, Sonam reacts without thinking. 

"Sonam is a drama queen, she's the modern-day Meena Kumari," grins Ranbir, striking a dramatic pose in reference to the legendary tragedy queen of Indian cinema. 

"How can you be so cool and collected?" asks Sonam ruefully. 

"Try thinking first before you speak, and you'll get there!" jokes Ranbir. "But it's okay. I like the honesty." 

Then remembering your presence there, the actor turns to you and says earnestly: "That's exactly how she's like – no pretences, when she's alone with you or with friends, with a hundred people or before the media." 

Back to more serious matters. How does he feel now that the shoot of Saawariya is over? "I feel like a father giving away his daughter in marriage," says Ranbir. Sonam giggles again.  

The kids aren't allowed to say much about their film. "Which is good, otherwise Sonam would narrate the entire script to you right now," says Ranbir. "Ask her about a book and she'll tell you the entire story. Then she'll move on to another book and narrate that story too...." 

What if Saawariya doesn't do well? 

Working with Ranbir and Sonam has energised Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

For the first time, there's a moment of deathly silence and the two look at each other. 

Then Ranbir says: "It will do well." 

"We're young and optimistic. It will do well," Sonam replies. 

Despite the high expectations, the two are remarkably sanguine about their maiden effort. It's an attitude the up-and-coming actors will need to survive in the capricious world of showbiz.