Aayush, Warina don the tourist hat in Jaipur

The lead couple of the upcoming film Love Yatri – Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain – were in town recently to promote their film. During their trip, the actors did all things touristy, including a must-visit to Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal. Aayush, who visited Jaipur for the second time, says, “I remember coming to the city as a child and visiting old monuments.

I’ve travelled the world, but cities like Jaipur stand out: Warina Hussain
Even after so many years, it is still the same. It is beautiful and has retained its old-world charm.” He adds, “During this trip, we went to Hawa Mahal, followed by a visit to Jal Mahal. We could not go inside the Amber Fort but we saw it while passing by. Situated on a hilltop, it is fascinating. These historical monuments remind us of our rich culture and heritage.” Warina, who has travelled across the world, adds, “For me, cities like Jaipur stand out. There is so much to see and explore. The palace in the middle of the lake (Jal Mahal) was amazing.”

SOAKING IN THE JAIPUR SUN: Aayush and Warina in front of the Jal Mahal

SOAKING IN THE JAIPUR SUN: Aayush and Warina in front of the Jal MahalWe do not want to hurt anyone's sentiments
The film, which was earlier titled as Loveratri, has now been renamed Love Yatri following a FIR lodged at the Mithanpura, Muzaffarpur, police station by an advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha who had alleged that the title of the movie made fun of the festival of Navaratri. Talking about the changed title of the film, Aayush says, “The director, Warina and I are making our foray into the industry with this film, so it holds a special significance in our lives. So, we did not want to get into any controversies. Also, this is a celebration of love and Indian culture, and we do not want to hurt anybody’s sentiments, so it’s better to change the name and have a smooth release.”

Release date bringing anxiety for the actors
As the release date is drawing closer, both the actors are going through a lot of anxiety. Warina says, “I have done several television commercials and given auditions for various projects. I hope this is going to be my last audition and people will enjoy the film. As the release date is coming closer, I feel like I have to sit for an examination.” Warina, who was born to an Iraqi father and an Afghani mother, learnt different dance forms to fit into her character. She tells us, “I had to learn a variety of dance forms, which was quite challenging. Since the film is set in Gujarat, I learnt dandiya and garba for six months. Also, there is a peppy number, for which I took special training.”

Pictures by Pankaj Sharma/BCCL