Sometimes, a story finds its destiny long before the cameras roll. For Jab Khuli Kitaab, that journey began on stage, travelled through years of creative intent, and has now arrived on screen, coming full circle in what can only be described as a creative homecoming.
written and directed by Saurabh Shukla, the film is Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Shoestring Film Production and releases on 6th March on ZEE5. What makes its journey especially compelling is its origin: the film is adapted from Shukla’s own acclaimed stage play of the same name, which was originally presented under Aadyam, an initiative by the Aditya Birla Group. It was the strength of its writing, humour and emotional depth that caught Applause’s attention. Recognising the story’s wider appeal, the studio greenlit the story for the screen . Interestingly, the story’s journey has come full circle.
Saurabh Shukla reveals that the idea of adapting the play for cinema had always existed in his mind. “When Sameer approached me saying they’d like to adapt it into a film, I didn’t need convincing. While writing it, I had always imagined it visually, almost like it was already unfolding on screen. The play was one form, but cinema was always part of its destiny.”
Sameer Nair, Managing Director of Applause Entertainment shares, “As producers, our instinct is always to back stories that stay with you long after they end, and Jab Khuli Kitaab had that rare quality from the first reading. We trusted its voice, its characters, and its emotional truth. Bringing it from stage to screen felt less like a decision and more like a natural evolution, especially given its roots within our larger creative family.”
Presented by Applause Entertainment, a Shoestrap Films Production, Jab Khuli Kitaab premieres March 6 on ZEE5, proving that powerful stories don’t change when they shift mediums, they simply find new ways to open up.