'Mr. and Mrs. Mahi' director Sharan Sharma says any similarities between his film and 'Abhimaan' are purely coincidental

The recent release of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Mahi’ has generated buzz not only for its captivating storyline but also for the unexpected comparisons it has drawn to the 1973 classic ‘Abhimaan,’ starring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. In ‘Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,’ directed by Sharan Sharma, the plot explores the dynamics of a married couple where the wife's success in cricket causes tension, reminiscent of the jealousy portrayed in ‘Abhimaan.’ However, Sharan Sharma insists that any similarities are purely coincidental.

While talking to News18, Sharan Sharma revealed that he had not seen ‘Abhimaan’ when he and his team began writing ‘Mr. and Mrs. Mahi.’ "After we developed the film and we were doing our initial narration, I was told, ‘You should check out a movie called Abhimaan. You will get some idea.’ I had not seen it (before writing Mr & Mrs Mahi). Then I watched it. It was not a reference point at the time of writing, to be honest.”

Having said that, Sharan Sharma mentioned that he and his team were trying to do something different in their film as the motivations of the characters came from a different headspace.


The director elaborated on the unique genesis of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Mahi.’ The film's concept originated from observing societal norms regarding married women in India, specifically those who might be restricted from working post-marriage. Sharan posed a thought-provoking question: what if a woman marries into a family where her husband not only supports her ambitions but also helps her to flourish? This idea served as the foundation for the film’s narrative.

Sharan Sharma and his co-writers, Nikhil Mehrotra and Karan Johar, delved deeper into the writing process, finding themselves increasingly fascinated by the idea of the support system surrounding an achiever. "Very often when you do a story on an achiever, you focus on the achiever, and the support system becomes the supporting character. But we thought it would be fun if we focused on the supporting character and it would be even more fun if the motivations for that supporting character were gray," Sharma said.

This approach allowed the filmmakers to explore more nuanced character motivations and relationships, shifting the spotlight from the primary achiever to the often overlooked but equally crucial support system. This narrative choice distinguishes ‘Mr. and Mrs. Mahi’ from other films in the same genre, providing a fresh perspective on the complexities of ambition and support within a marriage.