Wanted to celebrate pain and love with 'Raanjhanaa', says director Anand L Rai

After making an impressive debut with Tanu Weds Manu, director Anand L Rai is once again celebrating the joy and pain that come with falling in love through his upcoming romantic film Raanjhanaa.

The trailer of the film shows a love triangle between Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol. Oscar-award winner AR Rahman has given music in the movie which is set in Varanasi and Delhi. Raanjhanaa will release on June 21.

"I have a feeling that somewhere people have lost faith in love. People speak about it today but imagine it to be true only in fairy tales. I feel sad to see this, as love is an integral part of our life. I feel people don't want to go through the heartbreak. So, somewhere I wanted to celebrate this pain and love," Rai said in an interview.

South star Dhanush, who shot to fame with the song Kolaveri Di in Bollywood, plays a Hindu Banarasi boy who falls in love with Sonam, a Muslim girl.

Rai cast Dhanush when Kolaveri Di was a rage but the director did not want to cash in on his singer's image.

"I didn't want a singer but an actor. And he is 100 times better as actor than a singer. The aim was not to cash in on his Kolaveri Di fame but to highlight the actor in him."

From a middle-class Delhi family, Rai left his job as an engineer to pursue dreams of filmmaking. Though he feels it was a risk he took, he has no regrets about it.

"I left everything to pursue my dreams of filmmaking. It was a risk I took at that point since I don't even come from a filmy background but I wanted to take that chance. It is this excitement which keeps me going. I did face challenges but that's what keeps me growing."

Rai is not keen to dwell on his struggles as he takes his life in a very positive way.

"Every director goes through struggles and I am no different. I also had my share of problems but it would be unfair to only talk about problems as I have been extremely lucky as well. I have learnt a lot all these years and hope to keep learning in future."

Rai is happy with the way the film has shaped up.

"I am very satisfied with how the movie has shaped up. It is exactly how what a father feels when he is close to his daughter's wedding. I have put so much into it that I am very much emotionally attached to it," he said.

The director is all praise for Abhay, who accepted the movie knowing it was not a lead role.

"I am proud to be in an industry where actors like Abhay Deol are there. It's his security and conviction that directors like us can make movies which we want to.

"When I offered him the role, he had no problem with not playing the lead. But was satisfied with his character and knew how important it was to the story. You don't find such actors in the film industry."