Mumbai’s powerhouse producer Ekta Kapoor has built an empire on stories that tug at heartstrings, but one particular moment from her 2018 film ‘Laila Majnu’ left her utterly shattered. Recalling the raw emotion of a pivotal scene, Ekta shared on Instagram how it brought her to tears like few others.
In the heart-wrenching clip she posted, lead character Kais, played with devastating intensity, reunites with Laila after four long years apart. The moment he lays eyes on her, he’s overwhelmed and collapses in a faint. Ekta explained the depth behind this: Kais, having spent those years in London, had built an idealized image of Laila in his mind. Confronted with the reality, the disconnect is too much, triggering his collapse.
Ekta confessed this scene moved her to uncontrollable sobs during its narration. ‘I’ve only cried three times while hearing a story in my life,’ she wrote. The first was during the pilot of ‘Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ when Mihir remembers Bapuji’s birthday. The second came with ‘The Dirty Picture’ at Silk’s tragic death. This scene marked the third.
She revealed it took her a full five minutes to compose herself mid-narration, leaving director Sajid Ali stunned. ‘This scene still hits me as powerfully as the first time,’ Ekta added, capturing its timeless pull.
Delving deeper, she described the scene’s essence: Imagine loving someone so profoundly that seeing them makes you faint. Everyone told Laila that Kais was thriving happily in London, but when she sees the frail, broken man before her—the one she loves—no lies are needed. She instantly knows his soul has ached for her just as hers has for him. It’s love’s unspoken language, where hearts communicate beyond words.
Directed by Sajid Ali and presented by Imtiaz Ali, ‘Laila Majnu’ reimagined the classic tale with Avinash Tiwary and Triptii Dimri. Produced by Ekta, Shobha Kapoor, and Preeti Ali, the film and its songs continue to resonate on social media years after its release, proving true love stories never fade.