Tisca Chopra Reveals Directorial Debut ‘Saali Mohabbat’ Nearly Led to Divorce with Husband Sanjay

In a candid interview following the release of her directorial debut “Saali Mohabbat”, actor-director Tisca Chopra shared that the creative process behind the film was so intense it nearly ended her marriage.¹ Speaking with Mid-Day India, Tisca revealed that co-writing the script with her husband, Sanjay Chopra, sparked creative differences that pushed them to the brink of divorce.²

The “Yin and Yang” of Creative Conflict

Tisca, married to Sanjay Chopra (a former Air India pilot), explained that their contrasting writing styles were the source of both the friction and the film’s unique tone.³

• The Conflict: “We almost got divorced writing it,” she admitted.⁴ “His sense of writing is robust, mine is more subtle.”⁵
• The Result: Despite the personal toll, she noted that this “yin and yang” eventually came together to create a balanced script that explores domestic noir and moral ambiguity.⁶

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The Challenges of the Director’s Chair

Transitioning from acting to directing proved to be an uphill battle for Tisca.⁷ She described the role as a “mother-of-God hard job” that requires constant decision-making on every minute detail, from an actor’s appearance to technical set pieces.⁸

“You start your day with a volley of questions… If you don’t answer, they’ll think that you don’t know your mind.⁹ So, you just have to make a decision, even if it’s wrong. And then you make it the right decision.”

The production also faced several “crises,” including the sudden departure of the cameraman and production designer, which Tisca managed while navigating the pressures of her first feature film.

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About ‘Saali Mohabbat’

Released on ZEE5 on December 12, 2025, Saali Mohabbat is a “how-dunnit” thriller produced by Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra’s Stage5 Production.¹⁰

Feature	Details
Lead Cast	Radhika Apte (as Smita/Kavita), Divyenndu (as Ratan Pandit)
Supporting Cast	Anurag Kashyap, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sharat Saxena, Sauraseni Maitra
Plot	A small-town housewife’s life unravels following a double murder, uncovering a web of infidelity and deceit.
Inspiration	Loosely inspired by the Geeta Colony double murder case and Tisca’s own short film, Chutney.

Despite the internal struggles during its creation, the film has been praised for Radhika Apte’s stellar performance and its atmospheric, slow-burn tension.

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