After the disappointing performance of Sooraj R Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Rajshri Productions is placing its bets on Uff Kya Jaadoo Mohabbat Hai..!

Starring newcomers Sammir and Pooja Kanwal, the love story opens in theatres on May 21.

This is how Sammir bagged his part: "When I was 16, I did the Rajshri video Valentine's Day with Raima Sen. Four years later, when Rajat [Barjatya] was ready with a script, he called me for an audition. He liked me after the test. And I was in."

Acting is what the chocolate-faced 20 year-old always wanted to do. "I first appeared with Sunil Gavaskar in an advertisement for Energy Bang. The product is defunct now. Since then, I always wanted to be associated with acting. Now I am very happy to become an actor," says Sammir.

Pooja, the 19 year-old daughter of actress Anita Kanwal, couldn't have asked for a better break. The last heroine to be introduced by Rajshri was Maine Pyar Kiya's Suman, Bhagyashree.

Pooja finds the comparison unfair. "I don't think it is right to compare me with her [Bhagyashree]. She was the nation's craze. I only hope that people accept me and my work."

Dancing, she says, is her passion. "I can dance for six hours non-stop. I love dancing and I am ready for it any time." She also mentions that her mother was "a walking-talking learning school" for her.

Noted French pianist Richard Clayderman was so impressed with Sandesh Shandilya's music that he agreed to score the latter's compositions on the piano.

Do the Rajshris have another Maine Pyar Kiya on their hands?

Reportage: Syed Firdaus Ashraf