Ever since the trailer of Raazi released a month ago, there has been a lot of buzz about the movie. Besides the fact that an espionage thriller is hitting the screens after a long time, there’s also a lot of excitement among viewers, especially since it is based on a true story. This is filmmaker Meghna Gulzar’s second collaboration with Junglee Pictures after the hugely-successful Talvar (2015).

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Alia Bhatt takes on the role of a spy, Sehmat, who is willing to do anything for her country. The star, who has proved her acting prowess many times, gave it her all to bring the character to life. Apart from concentrating on finding the right note for her character, the powerhouse performer immersed herself completely into playing Sehmat. Right from learning the Morse Code to driving the Jonga jeep, she has pushed the boundaries. So far, Alia has given her fans a good mix of movies and proved that she doesn’t shy away from taking risks. She says, “At the end of the day, everything is a risk. I’m not scared of it. You need to see if it’s a fruitful, worthwhile experience.”

The actress didn’t think twice before taking on this character. She says, “Meghna (Gulzar) came to me with a one-line concept. That’s it. And this was way before any of the producers were on board. I had told Meghna that whenever she planned to make the movie, I would do it. I said yes to it, without even hearing the script. I was sold on the concept because it was such a brave, beautiful story.”

Alia will share screen space with the talented Vicky Kaushal for the first time in Raazi. That the two actors share great chemistry is obvious. Vicky’s female fan-following, too, has increased since the time the trailer was released. Says a source, “Vicky is a great actor and this film presents him in a completely different avatar. He definitely has more female admirers now.”

In the last two years, the audience has enjoyed cinema that offers good content. Raazi stands out for its powerful narrative. Says Meghna, “It talks about ideals and principles that seem unfamiliar in today’s times. And because it’s a true story, the draw for me was much more complete. Jingoism isn’t inherent in the story, so I didn’t need to douse the film with it. Plus, it’s not my sensibility. I will go back to Talvar for this because there were two ways that story was dealt with. One was sensational, while the other was sensitive. It comes from the maker’s sensibility or those who are behind it. It’s the same case here. I’m not telling the story for inflammatory purposes.”

Junglee Pictures and Dharma Productions present, Raazi, directed by Meghna Gulzar, produced by Vineet Jain, Karan Johar, Hiroo Johar and Apoorva Mehta. Starring Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal and others, it releases today.