Luv Ranjan casts six newcomers in romcom 'Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar', out on October 23

Filmmaker Luv Ranjan is known for stories that connect with audiences and for giving opportunities to new and relatable talent. From 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' to the upcoming 'Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar', he has placed his trust in newcomers. In his latest film, he is once again giving six young actors a big break.

'Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar' is a romantic comedy whose story revolves around youth, love and relationships. The film has been talked about since it was announced, and its cast of newcomers is becoming an important part of it.

Speaking about his thinking on launching new talent, Ranjan was forthright. "How will new stars or new directors be groomed if no one gives them a chance?" he said.

Recalling his early days, Ranjan said that when he came to Mumbai he knew no one. Even so, some people trusted him and gave him a chance. In his view, this chain of giving newcomers a chance must therefore continue.

The auditions to find the right actors for the film went on for six to eight months. Most of them had already received some form of training. After casting, workshops were held for the actors, with special emphasis on script reading, Ranjan said.

Ranjan also said that today's new actors have more knowledge of and exposure to areas such as social media, casting and styling than before. But with these facilities, distractions have also increased considerably. In his view, today's actors are products of their times, so it would not be right to compare them directly with actors of earlier generations.

Ranjan also gave his opinion on whether producers should play safe from a box-office standpoint. In his view, no film's success can be guaranteed today. Established actors can give a film a big opening, but he asked how future stars will emerge if newcomers are not given a chance.

He said Hindi cinema needs a steady supply of new faces to sustain its ecosystem. Actors grow older and today's top stars do fewer films than before, so in his opinion it is necessary to build a dependable pool of new actors. Of working with newcomers, he said they have tremendous energy and passion and are ready to work hard to make their first film special.

On the debate between content and star power, Ranjan said strong content is necessary to win over audiences, but stardom carries that content to viewers on a large scale. Citing 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' and 'Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety', he said a good film made with non-stars also finds its audience, but if the same film has a superstar, its success can multiply many times over.

Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg have co-produced 'Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar'. Based on youth, love and the feeling of togetherness, the fresh romantic comedy will try to offer audiences a new story. The film will release in theatres across the country on October 23, 2026.