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Loveyapa actor Junaid Khan: 'I'd want films to be free on YouTube'; here's why

Junaid Khan, after his OTT debut in Maharaj, makes his theatrical debut with Loveyapa, a remake of Love Today. He believes the medium doesn’t affect artists and that love stories remain timeless.

Loveyapa actor Junaid Khan: 'I'd want films to be free on YouTube'; here's why
Junaid Khan in a still from Loveyapa

Last Updated: 10.59 AM, Jan 30, 2025

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The highly acclaimed debut feature of Junaid Khan, Maharaj (2024), has set the stage for his upcoming big-screen offering, Loveyapa. Remake of the Tamil smash hit Love Today, the romantic comedy has Khushi Kapoor as the female lead. Junaid discusses the shift from OTT to traditional cinema in an interview with Hindustan Times just before the film's release.

Transition from OTT to theatrical release

Maharaj, Junaid's first feature film, debuted on Netflix. His debut theatrical release will be Loveyapa as a result. The actor, however, is of the opinion that the shift in media makes little to no impact. 

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He just doesn't think it makes a difference to him. A film is a film, and they all hold them in high regard, in his opinion. Things like deciding how to distribute the film are ones that he will let them do based on their best discretion. Junaid's genuine passion lies in acting. In an ideal scenario, he would upload the film to YouTube and make it available for free viewing for everyone. He insists it isn't a practicality.

Reaching a wider audience

The actor said that, of course, he would always want it to go to the maximum number of people. When asked why he wants the film to be free on YouTube, he says the same thing. Because they are experts in marketing and distribution, he will let the individuals in charge handle that.

The actor, however, thinks that artists aren't the right people to ask about OTT vs. theatres. He believes that distributors and producers should be the ones to ask this question, as nothing changes for artists.

Loveyapa as a fresh take on Love Today

Based on the popular Tamil film Love Today, Loveyapa is a new version of the original. According to Junaid, the fact that it is a remake in no way diminishes the film's originality. 

To begin, there is an enduring quality to love stories. In his opinion, it was a thrilling screenplay and seemed like a good time. On top of that, Junaid believes that a lot of people aren't bothered by the fact that there's something like, "No, but this looks interesting enough." According to him, it doesn't really matter if anything else is out there.

Advait Chandan directs Loveyapa, a film featuring Khushi, Junaid, Ashutosh Rana, and Kiku Sharda as the main characters. February 7 is the film's theatrical release date.

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