A couple on the run seeking protection from a broken, corrupt system, an assassin created and meant to bypass the system... Shanker Raman's Love Hostel is an antidote for the saccharine sweetness of Valentine's Day celebrations.
The gritty, bloody trailer for the film captures the conflicting nature and repercussions of love in the Indian heartland with bloody violence. Starring Vikrant Massey, Sanya Malhotra and Bobby Deol, the film will be released on Zee5 on 25 February.
Massey and Malhotra play a couple in love, offered protection by the court. Jyoti (Malhotra) is on the run from her family, a powerful political player in the state which now wishes to eliminate both to safeguard its 'honour'. They hire Dagar (Deol), a professional killer, to get rid of Ashu (Massey) and bring Jyoti back home to be killed by the family.
The trailer offers a bloody trail of vengeance, with murky dealings running through it. Massey and Malhotra are aptly cast as a young couple from different caste backgrounds, while Deol is impressive in his appearance and presence.
Shanker Raman's film seeks to underline the deep-rooted caste divide and the violence that is commonplace with inter-caste marriages or love affairs in the hinterland. With the couple battling for survival, and blackmail and backstabbing galore, there is a noirish feel to the plot.
The trailer also hints at the complexity of the relationship between the system and eloping couples, as it creates 'love hostels' to protect such couples while passing on their information to murderous families.
Describing her character, Malhotra said, “Love Hostel was a unique journey which helped me push my boundaries and dig deeper to become one with the character. Our director, Shanker sir, has been the driving force and has truly elevated the film with his deep understanding of his actors and characters. It was a terrific and an exhilarating journey and I can’t wait for audiences to meet Ashu and Jyoti”.
Vikrant Massey added, “Love Hostel is a gritty drama. It’s a film laced with romance along with the thrill of being a couple on the run from forces beyond their control. We had an incredible cast and crew who made this film possible even in the toughest times”.
Shanker Raman has previously dealt with the blood and gore of ambition in the North Indian hinterland in Gurgaon (2017). Love Hostel has a similar element of ambition, bloodlust and complex relationships running through its storyline. The trailer offers a peek into a promising project with Vikrant Massey, Sanya Malhotra and Bobby Deol looking in prime form.
Deol said, "Dagar is a character who has his own ideology and anyone who goes against it faces his wrath. He is a ruthless mercenary with a cause. I loved the way the character was written, it’s unlike anything I have played before. Since the character was out of my comfort zone, it took me some time to agree to play Dagar, but I am glad we worked it out."
Love Hostel is produced by Drishyam Films and Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment. The film will be released on Zee5 on 25 February.