There's comedy, romance and a hook in "Phillauri" trailer, the response to which has left the film's makers content and excited.
The trailer was unveiled on Monday morning to a positive response as Bollywood buffs found the idea of actress Anushka Sharma playing a ghost very unique and interesting.
Anushka, who has also produced the movie with her brother Karnesh Sharma under their banner Clean Slate Films, told IANS over phone from Mumbai: "We are very ecstatic. When you put out a film like this, you don't know how people will receive it because you're trying to tell a story differently.
"So when such a response comes through... It's great. We are grateful with the response, and we are very charged up with the rest of the promotions, thanks to this amazing start."
The trailer begins with Suraj Sharma -- yes, the "Life of Pi" actor -- in a very different persona as a NRI Punjabi boy who is made to marry a tree before he marries his fiance as he is 'maanglik'. The humour comes in when the ghost who lived on the tree starts trailing him.
Anushka's histrionics as the friendly and entertaining ghost look endearing, and the VFX adds to the look.
In a jocular tone, the actress said: "I thought playing human was too mainstream... Insaan se bore ho gayi (Got bored playing a human). But... this ghost is different and fun."
Gradually, the trailer gives out that the ghost has a back story of unrequited love from a bygone era. And her love interest -- a man who sings really well -- is played by the multi-talented Diljit Dosanjh, who is happy to be a part of this "different" story.
"This film's story was very different. I am a singer in real life, but not the kind of singer that I play in the movie. It was wonderful to be in this film. Punjab is looking very beautiful in 'Phillauri," Diljit told IANS, when asked about the picturesque hinterlands of Punjab that the trailer gives a dekko at.
From the trailer, one cannot tell much about what leads Anushka's character to become a ghost. But that was the whole idea, says the film's director Anshai Lal, who is making his feature film debut.
"The idea was to leave it ambiguous. There's a lot of freshness in the movie -- people have appreciated Diljit-Anushka's pairing in the film, the VFX is being appreciated a lot in the trailer. Basically, what we wanted out of the trailer, we have got it," Lal said.
Written by Anvita Dutt, "Phillauri", releasing on March 24, is produced by Fox Star Studios and Clean Slate Films.
--IANS
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