INSIDE Mukti Mohan, Vaibhav Tatwawadi & Abhinav's eerie experiences and filming 'A wedding Story'

In this exclusive interview, India Forums chats with director Abhinav Pareek and actors Mukti Mohan and Vaibhav Tatwawadi as they share thrilling insights into the making of this eerie tale, 'A Wedding Story'.

Q: The film, as we just saw in the trailer, is quite scary and spooky, with a story reminiscent of folklore. How did the idea for this movie come to you, and why did you feel it was important to make a film about it?

Abhinav: Actually, the idea didn't originate with me. The film's producer, Shubho Shekhar Bhattacharya, was the one who conceived it. He approached me with the concept and asked me to direct it. The story was so compelling, and the screenplay was incredibly engaging, especially in terms of its ability to scare people, that there was no reason for me to turn it down. It was a wonderful experience working on this project. Once I delved into the concept of "Panchak," it became even more intriguing to me, as this genre hasn't been extensively explored in India. The story is rich with emotion, drama, and a love story, all underpinned by a sense of fear. I felt that this was a story that needed to be told, and everything came together perfectly.

Q: Mukti and Vaibhav, this question is for you. In a story, the characters are central, but the location where the shooting takes place is also crucial. How was your experience working in places like Dehradun, and how did you connect with the local people there?

Vaibhav: For me, it was an amazing experience. I visited Dehradun for the first time during the shoot, and I instantly fell in love with the city and Uttarakhand as a whole. The people there are incredibly sweet, and I had many interactions with them. My character, Vicky Nunn, is born and raised in Dehradun, so connecting with the locals really helped me embody the role. The 30 days of shooting were so enjoyable that we became like a family. Even after the shoot was over, we stayed in touch, and I made some very good friends.

Abhinav: Before Mukti speaks, I'd like to highlight something about Vaibhav. He portrayed a Punjabi character, but in reality, he's a hardcore Marathi guy. It's amazing how he transformed himself into that character. He even went to Chandigarh and stayed with friends for five or six days to perfect the accent. It's brilliant how he got into character.

Mukti: Before we continue, I'd like to clarify something. The story is not based on folklore. It's actually rooted in the Garuda Purana and the concept of Panchak. The film explores what happens when ancient beliefs from thousands of years ago come into play within a modern family setting in 2024. That's the essence of "A Wedding Story."

Now, about my experience—let me start with the phone call I received from Abhinav. He told me he had seen my work in the series "Thar." He saw the edit at that time and had worked with Anurag Kashyap, who I had also collaborated with. So, when he mentioned that he liked my performance and wanted me to play Preeti Bhardwaj in "A Wedding Story," I felt an instant connection. I was already in Dehradun for another shoot, and this opportunity came along as well. It was a unique experience, and I'm really thankful for it.

Watch full interview HERE

Q: Mukti, could you tell us more about your character, Preeti Bhardwaj?

Mukti: Preeti Bhardwaj is a joyful and very happy character who is deeply in love with Vicky Nunn. Both of our families agree that they should be together. But sometimes, things go wrong at the right time, and that's when the twist in the story occurs. To find out what happens, you'll have to watch the film when it releases on August 30th in theaters.

Vaibhav: I want to take a moment to thank Abhinav sir for his confidence in me. He had seen my performance in the web series "Nirmal Pathak Ke Ghar Wapsi," and he was certain that I was the right fit for the role of Vicky.

Abhinav: When I met Vaibhav, I immediately saw the maturity needed for the character in him. Vicky Nunn is a character that could go in many different directions, but Vaibhav had the maturity to handle it. That's why I was so sure about casting him. As for Mukti, I didn't even need an audition. We just had a conversation, and I was convinced she had the empathy needed for the role.

In the film 'A Wedding Story', when a man passes away during the inauspicious period known as Panchak, his son refuses to perform a ceremonial ritual meant to ward off negative energies. Soon after, his cousin's wedding turns into a nightmare as malevolent spirits begin to torment the family. The film was released in theatres on 30th August, 2024.