"Editing is very important for a filmmaker, and of course, I was there through the edit. The DOP, Sahil Bharadwaj, is a good friend and a great cinematographer. The Fevicol Shoe Fix ad came from Ogilvy for Pidilite. Arun Ganesh, another good friend, discussed the idea with me. He works with Anurag Agnihotri, who was actually my former boss. I immediately liked the film because it was such an earnest idea. We spent a lot of time brainstorming how we should bring it to life, and I wanted the casting to stay true to that sincerity.
One of our biggest discussions was around Blinkit. We wanted the delivery guy to appear while the hero was running, fix his shoe on the spot, and let him continue without waiting. The lovers were meeting after a long time, and I wanted to recreate that beautiful ’90s era when everything was filled with love and longing. The casting had to reflect that too. For days, we couldn’t find someone who truly fit the idea. Then I found Sakshii Mokadam. She had that look from the Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit era—the innocence and earnestness of falling in love. Dhiraj Totlani came in as the hero, and then we found the Blinkit guy who would become the catalyst, helping the two lovers meet. The humour had to be pitched just right.
The script was almost exactly what we shot. The only thing that evolved through brainstorming was how the Blinkit rider would enter the film. He had to appear out of nowhere with an instant solution, reinforcing Blinkit’s promise of quick delivery. The location became equally important. I didn’t want a regular park because it would dilute the nostalgic feeling. I wanted a beautiful hilltop where these two lovers could run towards each other. Eventually, we found the perfect golf course in Mulund, with the kind of atmosphere we needed.
Pidilite has always stood out for its quirky storytelling. Whether it’s Fevicol, Fevikwik or M-Seal, they’ve consistently backed bold ideas. The shoot itself had many memorable moments. I remember Sakshi’s saree, while she was running, just wouldn’t fly the way I had imagined. We brought in fans and struggled with the fact that we were shooting in an open location, but somehow, by God’s grace, everything fell into place. Another lovely addition happened spontaneously. After the Blinkit guy fixes Dheeraj’s shoe, he suddenly does a somersault before running towards his lover. Thankfully, he could pull it off, and we immediately kept it in the film. Those little unplanned moments often become the most memorable.
I want to specifically mention the supremely talented Karan Malhotra—the hard work, effort and time he spent with us in creating such a memorable track was commendable. And the multi-talented Hamsika Iyer; her voice transformed the film.
The director’s cut and the client’s cut were almost identical. They loved the film so much that it was screened in cinemas as well. Seeing your own work on the big screen is always special, but filmmaking is never an individual effort. Pidilite trusted us completely, appreciated the final film and gave us the freedom to make it the way we believed it should be.”
IMPACT’S PICK
‘Jodi Salamat Rahe’ - Fevicol Shoefix
ABOUT NASAR HUSAMI
Nasar Husami, a filmmaker with Vanilla Films, brings nearly two decades of advertising experience to the director’s chair. Formerly Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy, he spent close to 20 years crafting award-winning campaigns before transitioning to filmmaking. His unique blend of creative strategy and visual storytelling enables him to create emotionally engaging, insight-led films that resonate with audiences across advertising and branded content.
BEST WORK
‘Confusion’ – Oreo Toffee
‘Herd Mentality’ – Bandhan Mutual Fund
CAMPAIGNS I LOVE
‘F1’ – Navi
‘Anthology’ – Nilaya
