MUMBAI: Tisca Chopra is ready to step behind the camera with her directorial debut feature, Saali Mohabbat, a ZEE5 Original set to premiere later this year. Featuring Radhika Apte, Divyenndu Sharma, and Anurag Kashyap in lead roles, the film is produced by Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra’s Stage5 Production, marking the celebrated designer’s first venture into digital cinema.
After an acclaimed run at film festivals including IFFI and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Saali Mohabbat is all set for its digital debut on ZEE5. Billed as a genre-bending ‘how-dunnit’, the story follows Smita (Radhika Apte), a small-town housewife whose seemingly ordinary life spirals into a dark maze of deceit, desire, and moral conflict. What begins as a domestic drama slowly unfolds into a chilling tale of love, betrayal, and blurred truths.
Tisca Chopra, known for her powerful on-screen performances, brings a sharp and empathetic gaze to her first feature as director. “With Saali Mohabbat, I wanted to tell a story that’s intimate yet unsettling, one that explores the invisible tensions in relationships and the ways love can morph into something darker,” she said. “Directing this film has been both terrifying and liberating, and I’m deeply grateful to my collaborators for trusting my vision.”
Producer Manish Malhotra described the project as a deeply personal one. “At Stage5, we back stories that are original in thought and strong in craft. Saali Mohabbat is layered and quietly powerful, exploring silence, choices, and consequence. Every frame reflects the team’s shared commitment to storytelling with purpose and soul,” he said.
Jio Studios president Jyoti Deshpande added, “We are proud to support bold voices like Tisca’s and to collaborate with creative forces such as Manish Malhotra. Saali Mohabbat is a perfect blend of emotional depth and cinematic finesse, a story that will resonate deeply with audiences.”
ZEE5 business head Hindi Kaveri Das said, “We’re thrilled to bring Saali Mohabbat to ZEE5 viewers. It’s not just a thriller, but a deeply human story that challenges conventions and keeps you hooked till the very end.”
With its blend of psychological intrigue, striking performances, and Tisca Chopra’s assured direction, Saali Mohabbat promises to be one of this year’s most compelling digital premieres, a love story that cuts deep and lingers long after the credits roll.
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