Story is film's hero: Sanam Re stars Yami and Pulkit

Dubai - Pulkit Samrat and Yami Gautam arrived at the Khaleej Times office this evening.

Timekeeping may not be many Bollywood actors' strong suits and that can get irksome. But when love is involved - it's almost Valentine's Day and this is a romance film after all - would we be so heartless as to hold a bit of tardiness against the Sanam Re cast?

Pulkit Samrat and Yami Gautam arrived at the Khaleej Times office this evening to beat the drum for their movie over strong competition emanating from Katrina Kaif's Fitoor. Both opened in the UAE this morning.

"Today so many films are released. There will never be a solo release," Samrat said whilst commenting on the potential box office clash. "You can take it as a good thing that people are getting more options.

"Every film has its own audience and the kind of love we are getting for the trailer and for the songs is just overwhelming."

"The 'star-factor' of a movie can be important," said Gautam, alluding to Kaif's greater notoriety. "But I think these days the verdict is, it's the story that is the hero of the movie."

Since Sanam Re's promotional campaign began in November, and has increased in intensity over the last two weeks, far more scrutiny (as it seems with any male-female lead pairing in a Hindi romance) has been put on the actors' personal lives. Many site pages and column inches have been dedicated to Gautam and Samrat's relationship.

"Whatever people say I take it as a compliment for the onscreen chemistry." Samrat said.

"From what I have seen people are loving Shruti and Aakash [their characters]," added Gautam.

Equal speculation has been shone on their co-star Urvashi Rautela's absence from the media spots to push the film. Many outlets claim it was a result of Rautela allegedly confirming the two principal cast members were an item - a story Rautela stringently denies.

"That's something that the producers called," Samrat said on why Rautela was not present in Dubai.

"I have not shared any common scene [with Rautela]," said Gautam, perhaps to illustrate the size of Rautela's role, thus her absence from the tour. "There is no time we are in the movie together."

(david@khaleejtimes.com)

• Bollywood