Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, whose latest release AndhaDhun is running houseful shows, says that mystery thriller is the genre that attracts him the most.

The film that released on 5 October stars Tabu, Ayushmann Khurrana and Radhika Apte in pivotal roles.

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Speaking to thestatesman.com about the film, the director said, “I just want to make it a great experience for the viewer. Keep them at the edge of the seat.”

Also read: Exclusive | Why Radhika Apte wanted Ayushmann Khurrana’s role in AndhaDhun 

Raghavan’s AndhaDhun is an edge of the seat thriller, filled with twists and suspense where a visually impaired pianist’s life changes when he meets mystery woman Simi (Tabu).

AndhaDhun marks the first collaboration of Tabu with Raghavan and he is absolutely exhilarated with her presence in the film. “For me, Tabu is an actress who has got such a range of performance and worked in basic Hindi massy commercials and also done films like Maqbool, and Namesake. She is an actor I just love. I find she doesn’t do too many films. I have also been wanting to work with her. When I was writing this film, I and my co-writers were like she will be right. This is not something she has done lately, I am very happy to have her,”  the director said.

Speaking of the other actors–Ayushmann and Radhika– he continued, “For Ayushmann’s character I had various names in mind. Until one day he texted me saying I heard you have a script and so on. I thought here is my actor, he is a musician, I need a person who has music in their blood and can actually learn to play the piano.”

“Radhika is someone I have worked before. One day we met and I was telling her the story and she wanted to play Ayushmann’s role. With Radhika I have a certain comfort level, in Badlapur she had small but very intense role and I feel she was very good in the movie. I think this is a very oddball kind of a cast,” he added.

Read more: Exclusive | I want to assist Sriram Raghavan in his next film: Tabu after AndhaDhun

AndhaDhun has two female characters played by Tabu and Radhika Apte. Raghavan spoke about the changing scenario of women-oriented films and the vital role of heroines in cinema these days. “A film like Raazi with a girl in it can attract so much audience. I do not think like that the guy is the main character and the girl has to be decoration. However, I try my best not to watch those films because they don’t interest me. For me, every character a man or a woman or a child has to have value in the film. I think this is something which is gradually dying out,” he said.

Talking about the films with a woman lead entering the Rs 100 cr club, he said, “This has already happened with Raazi and I am sure there are many more to come. However, how much money a film is not important. This whole number thing is important for big production houses. I hope there are more female-oriented big blockbusters and it’s possible, we just need the right story.”