‘Atrangi Re’ was never about mental illness for me’

Only love can be the panacea of all problems, believes filmmaker Aanand L Rai, whose latest movie ‘Atrangi Re’ was at the centre of controversy for its portrayal of mental health, reports Times of India.

The romantic-musical-drama -- written by Rai’s long-time collaborator Himanshu Sharma, starring Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush. With Akshay Kumar in a special appearance, the film was described as a twisted and complex love triangle.

Released on December 24 on streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar, ‘Atrangi Re’ received polarised reviews with some criticising how the film deals insensitively with mental health.

In an interview with PTI, the 50-year-old director said the sole purpose of the movie was to explore a mad world of “love”.

All in all, Rai is happy with the response to “Atrangi Re” as he believes it has managed to touch the viewers.