'Why should romance belong only to the young?': Saurabh Shukla on bringing mature rom-coms back with 'Jab Khuli Kitaab'

Romance never leaves Hindi cinema, yet stories about older couples rarely take center stage. With ‘Jab Khuli Kitaab,’ directed and written by Saurabh Shukla, and starring Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia, the film aims to shift that focus. The film also features Nauheed Cyrusi, Kamna Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana and Samir Soni in key roles. It premieres on ZEE5 on March 6, 2026, and puts mature relationships back into the spotlight.

Saurabh Shukla on mature rom-coms in Hindi cinema

In an exclusive interview with Variety India, Saurabh Shukla addressed the drop in mature romantic dramas without hesitation. “Yes, we have reduced them a lot,” he said. Shukla also offered context, adding, “Look, I don’t think I can analyze that. Because many of our mainstream heroes are not young either. If you are talking about mature stories, the younger generation finds youth aspirational. If the story is about young people, then identification happens easily. That might be the reason.”

Still, he challenged a common belief. “Otherwise, this idea that older people are not having fun, that notion should end. I think the amount of fun older people have is not funny at all.”




From a filmmaker’s lens, age is not the main barrier. “From a maker’s point of view, I don’t think any maker thinks about age. I think it is more of a marketing thought, can we replace older characters with a younger couple? That’s a different matter altogether.” He summed up the film’s core question in a single line: “Why should romance belong only to the young?”

More about 'Jab Khuli Kitaab'

Kapur approached the subject through writing and realism. “At least in the kind of story he has written, or if any writer writes about any age group, there is a truth to it, a rootedness,” he said. “The things shown in it relate to life, the life we live daily.”

He acknowledged skepticism. “Maybe many people think, ‘In this age group, where do we do such things?’ But that is not entirely true.” He also noted that earlier films have explored similar ground.

In ‘Jab Khuli Kitaab,’ a small confession disrupts a stable marriage and unsettles the entire family. “In this film, he has given a different angle, slightly unusual, but very dramatic and very entertaining,” Kapur said. “It shows how a small incident can shake an entire family structure—not necessarily break it, but bring change. I think that’s a great piece of drama.”

Pankaj Kapur is a respected Indian actor known for his work across film, television and theater, with acclaimed performances in ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro,’ ‘Karamchand,’ ‘Maqbool,’ and ‘Finding Fanny.’ Saurabh Shukla is an Indian actor, writer, and director who co-wrote ‘Satya’ and delivered memorable roles in ‘Jolly LLB’ and ‘Barfi!’, blending humor with grounded storytelling.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”