In 2011, Aanand L Rai delivered his first career hit with Tanu Weds Manu, starring R. Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut. Set in heartland India, the film captured the love story between two unlikely characters. In 2015, the sequel, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, was released and recorded the highest opening weekend collections for a female-led film in India until 2019. Naturally, fans eagerly awaited the announcement of a third installment.
However, Rai set the record straight, stating that a third part wasn’t on the cards as he was “done with the characters.” But it seems the story of Tanu and Manu isn’t over yet. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, he revealed that he “definitely” has plans to take the franchise forward. “Tanu Weds Manu is a kind of franchise that demands a part three. The reason being, those characters are so beautiful, and they were played so beautifully by Madhavan and Kangana. Those characters became a little bigger than the story itself,” he shared.
Rai further disclosed that there was no initial plan to make a franchise out of Tanu Weds Manu; the sequel was only decided after its success. “Tanu Weds Manu was wrapped very well. The story was complete. But the characters were eager to come back. That’s why we were able to create another story,” explained the Zero and Raanjhanaa director.
Last year, Ranaut confirmed her involvement in Tanu Weds Manu 3. However, Rai clarified that the story isn’t locked yet. “With Tanu Weds Manu Returns, we introduced a new character, Datto. These characters are all asking for a third part. The minute we have a great story—the story that Tanu, Manu, and Datto deserve—we’ll go for it,” he shared.
So, what exactly is he looking for in a story? “What I really search for is a unique man-woman relationship. The dynamics in Tanu Weds Manu were different from Raanjhanaa, just as Raanjhanaa was different from Atrangi Re, and Atrangi Re is very different from Haseen Dillruba. As a director and producer, I feel the need to explore a new love story each time. I search for a certain kind of edginess. In Tanu Weds Manu, I showed a girl who drinks and smokes, and as a director, I didn’t judge her—and that’s why my audience didn’t judge her,” he pointed out.
He added, “The idea is to bring a new story and a new relationship to celluloid, something that hasn’t been captured yet. That search is always on. When people say ‘Aanand L Rai film,’ I really don’t know what that means. The only thing I know is to be real and honest with my films. That honesty and pulse are the texture of my films. I’m not trying to impress myself; I want to be happy with my stories. That happiness is how I would describe the texture of my cinema.”
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