PremiumWas Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor offered Abhay Verma's role in Munjya? Actor reveals
Karan Johar praised Abhay Verma as "a phenomenal performer" for his role in Munjya.
Last Updated: 09.42 AM, Jun 12, 2024
Abhay Verma is becoming a household name with his latest outing, Munjya, which hit the big screens last Friday. With the horror-comedy, the young actor has left an impressive mark with his performance, and he has found that the number of calls received over the release weekend can be an indication that the film is successful—something he has encountered during the last four days. Since Munjya became an unexpected success, his phone hasn't stopped ringing.
High praise from Karan Johar
During an interview with Mid Day, Abhay stated that Karan Johar is such a visionary that when he texts you and says, 'You are a phenomenal performer,' you don't need anything else. He chuckles, comparing it to receiving that rare compliment from his parents.
In a time when both major and medium-sized films are failing to earn decent numbers at the box office, director Aditya Sarpotdar's horror comedy has grossed nearly Rs. 24 crore in the first four days—an astounding sum. Abhay, who has been in films like Ae Watan Mere Watan (starring Sara Ali Khan) and The Family Man Season 2, says the film shows how fate may be a mystery at times.
Evolution of Abhay Verma's character in Munjya
The actor revealed that the makers had originally planned for his character to be female. The original plan was for Alia Bhatt to play the role before Shraddha Kapoor. In the span of four or five years, the character underwent a transformation. Nobody's ever supplanted heroines with hero status!
The actor, an admirer of Dinesh Vijan's films since Cocktail (2012), unexpectedly found himself in the horror comedy universe the filmmaker had created. He said that after eight or ten months of tryouts, Vijan and Sarpotdar picked him. His director asked Abhay to evaluate his portrayal of fear. The goal of horror comedies is to make people laugh while they're afraid, which is a tall order. Dinesh informed him that they wouldn't be satisfied with just a few stars. They believe that after Munjya, he will become a star.
Inspiration from Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Sanjay Leela Bhansali had an impact on the young man from Panipat who, six and a half years ago, travelled to Mumbai in search of acting opportunities. Several of his tests had yielded low results. When Abhay was feeling depressed, he decided to watch Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013). He claimed that he was a loser when he went into the theatre, but he won and got to fulfil his ambition of being an entertainer. It was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's work that drew Abhay to Mumbai.