'Maharaj' director Siddharth P Malhotra confesses he 'didn't like Junaid Khan's 'Loveyapa' with Khushi Kapoor: 'I had issues with it'

Filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra, the director behind Junaid Khan's debut film 'Maharaj', recently got candid about the young actor’s career. As the film celebrated its first anniversary, Malhotra reflected on its journey and his continued mentorship of Aamir Khan’s son.In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Malhotra revealed that he still speaks to Junaid frequently and feels a strong, protective bond with him, saying, "I launched him. He’s like my own kid, and I am protective about him."Malhotra was notably honest when asked about Junaid's second film, 'Loveyapa', which co-starred Khushi Kapoor. He revealed that he was not a fan of the project. "I saw 'Loveyapa', and I didn’t like the film. I had issues with it."The filmmaker added that he told the actor that he didn't like the movie for various reasons. Malhotra stated that he would not like to talk about the reasons. He concluded by saying, "But the film didn’t work for me."Despite his criticism, the director remains optimistic about Junaid's potential, expressing confidence in his next film, 'Ek Din', which is slated for a November 7, 2025, release.The film marked the debut of Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan. It also featured Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, and Sharvari. The movie is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862 and the novel written by Saurabh Shah on the same.The initial release date of the film was June 14, 2024; however, the Gujarat High Court stayed the release of the movie after a Hindu group appealed, claiming the film would cause violence against Pushtimarga Sampradaya.It was finally released on 21 June 2024 for streaming on Netflix.After its release on the OTT platform, the debutant was praised for his performance along with Jaideep Ahlawat and others.