In a first for Bollywood promotions of a forthcoming big ticket film, Karan Johar has planned something totally different for his November 3 release Ittefaq. The film is an adaptation of the 1969 box office hit Ittefaq starring Rajesh Khanna and Nanda. In their place, director Abhay Chopra has got Siddharth Malhotra and Sonakshi Sinha as the couple caught in a web of murder, intrigue and lies. And where that veteran character artiste Iftekhar played the dogged investigating police officer of the 1969 murder mystery, the Ittefaq produced by Dharma Productions, Red Chillies Entertainment and BR Chopra Films has Akshaye Khanna reprising his role as the grim cop from Mom on the hunt for the killer to solve the chilling mystery behind two puzzling murders.

Karan Johar has decided that he will not have any promotions for the film. “For the first time the actors will not give media interviews or go on TV reality shows to promote the film,” the suave filmmaker said firmly to selected media. “The film will stand on its own merit.” It was his opinion that the original purpose of the actors’ visits to the sets of reality shows was lost in the publicity and drama of their being there. Moreover, Ittefaq is a murder mystery, and there was always the risk of somebody inadvertently revealing something of the film’s plot or its suspense in interactions with the media. “So there will be absolutely no media promotions,” he reiterated. Sources hinted that in another first for Bollywood, there is also the likelihood of the film’s cast having signed contracts not to give interviews about Ittefaq until November 3.

[caption id="attachment_5641" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Don’t go by what you see, my story will change your perception![/caption]

Ittefaq is 100 minutes long. Interestingly, like in the 1969 version, this film too does not have any songs. The original Ittefaq was based on the Gujarati play Dhummas staring Sarita Joshi. “This film is like the old Ittefaq and then it is different,” said Karan Johar adding to the secrecy behind the taut murder mystery coming up in November. Shah Rukh Khan, whose Red Chillies Entertainment co-produces the film, was so enthused with the script, that he wanted to do the film himself. “I really wanted to do it but I was doing other films, so I couldn’t,” the actor said when Ittefaq was going on the floors. Abhay Chopra shot it in a non-stop 50-day schedule which also SRK could not afford to do.

[caption id="attachment_5633" align="aligncenter" width="900"] He trusts no one and suspects everyone! He only wants the TRUTH![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5635" align="aligncenter" width="768"] I'm a victim who got accused of being a criminal! Dont you want to hear my story?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5634" align="aligncenter" width="900"] am accused of a crime I did not commit! Wait for my story…[/caption]