Aashiqui 2 better and different from original: Mahesh Bhatt

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is looking forward to the release of Aashiqui 2, says it is a very different film from Aashiqui, but the emotion of love remains the same.

Bhatt directed the 1990 hit romantic film Aashiqui. The film, starring Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal, was a commercial success particularly because of its music and songs. While Aashiqui 2 is directed by Mohit Suri, it stars Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead roles.

"Aashiqui 2 is very much different from Aashiqui. That film was set in the 90s, this is in 2013. So as the generation has changed, the narrative of the film has also changed," Bhatt told the PTI. The film releases on April 26. "All I can say is it is thousand times superior... better. It was difficult and challenging in its own way. But everyone has worked hard right from the actors to director to writer to musicians," Bhatt said.

Bhatt feels that with the generational change, the understanding of cinema has been better. Meanwhile it was an emotional moment for producer Bhushan Kumar who has backed Aashiqui 2, as his father Gulshan Kumar had produced Aashiqui.

"It is an emotional moment as dad had done it, but there is responsibility since Mahesh Bhatt has expectations from me. I have tried my best for this film," Bhushan said. Even his sister Tulsi, who has sung for this film, got emotional. "I could feel my father is around. I have been singing for six years, but today I feel I am living the dream of my father- of being a singer," she said.

PTI