‘The romcom space has evolved because the idea of love has changed’: Ayush Mehra & Aisha Ahmed

A still from 'Minus One: New Chapter'.

In 2019, Ayush Mehra and Aisha Ahmed appeared as former lovers turned flatmates in the show Minus One. Now, they are back as Varun and Ria respectively, but the new series is not an extension of the first one. Minus One: New Chapter is a new story which deals with love, life and its many complications. Releasing on February 14 on Lionsgate Play, this is a show for everyone who has ever been in a relationship, the duo tells us. Over to Mehra and Ahmed. Edited excerpts:

How is it getting back to playing Varun and Ria after a gap of almost four years? 

Ayush Mehra: It feels very good. This is a completely new story. The tone of the show has changed and so have the characters. There are two timelines. In the first you will see a young Varun and in the other, someone who is more mature. Varun is vulnerable, giving and a mess in the second timeline. It was a challenging character to play but a lot of fun.

Aisha Ahmed: This being a new chapter, it was almost like we were approaching fresh characters. It wasn’t difficult but what was interesting was the genre change between season one and this new chapter. The tone of these characters and the language changes in a dramatic way.

What can the viewers expect from the series? 

Mehra: The first season was in a slice-of-life comedy space but this chapter is a little serious and deals with real issues that the millennials and Gen Z face in their relationships. It deals with issues such as independence, self-love, break-ups, toxicity, love, sacrifice and pretense. The series spans seven years so one can see the progress that happens between Varun and Ria.

Ahmed: You see them growing into their own persons in these seven years. You will see how young, silly and in love they are and then you see them grow into responsible people, struggling with life’s complications. It will be very interesting to watch.

You both have done a number of projects in the rom-com or relationship space. How do you think that space has evolved in the last couple of years?

Mehra: To make a great relationship show, there has to be relatability, chemistry and a good story. I think in the last few years, the attention has gone away from romcoms but there are quite a few coming out now, so it is a breath of fresh air to be in a new space of a romantic relationship drama. The space has changed but the premise is still of a romantic show.

Ahmed: The romcom space has definitely evolved because the idea of love itself has changed. Shows have adapted to everything that is happening around us.