Mumbai : Alia Bhatt Difficult Daughters is making waves at Busan’s Asian Project Market, where mother-daughter duo Alia Bhatt and Soni Razdan presented the film. They shared their vision for the project, adapted from Manju Kapur’s acclaimed novel.
The film spans two timelines. In 1940s Lahore, Virmati, the eldest of ten children in a traditional Punjabi household, challenges societal norms to pursue education and love, only to face unforeseen consequences when she becomes the second wife of a married professor.
In 2022, her granddaughter Simar navigates a failing marriage and a secret affair; discovering Virmati’s hidden past forces her to confront her estranged mother, Ila.
Razdan told Variety that Kapur’s novel immediately sparked a visual reaction.
“When I read the book many years ago, it struck me as cinematically written. It evokes both the inner lives of the characters and their external surroundings,” she said.
She added that she visualised the story long before deciding to make it into a film.
“While the nation approached independence, we have a young girl fighting for her rights. At its core, this film tells personal stories set across two time periods,” Razdan explained.
Having previously starred in Yours Truly, screened at Busan in 2018, Razdan returned this year as director with Difficult Daughters.
She highlighted the importance of authenticity in recreating the past.
“Recreating 1940s Amritsar required careful attention to casting, costumes, and set design. Music also plays a huge role in blending past and present creatively,” she said.
Alia, one of India’s top stars and head of Eternal Sunshine Productions, described the project as personal and aligned with her company’s ethos.
“At Eternal Sunshine, we seek stories that resonate deeply and linger with audiences. Difficult Daughters is undoubtedly one of those,” Alia said.
She added, “Of course, it’s extra special to have my mom direct it, but what truly makes it stand out is our shared belief in this story. Busan marks a beautiful first step, and we hope the film sparks conversations and connections everywhere — because stories like this belong to everyone.”
–IANS
