'Yeh Jawaani...' not just for youngsters

Youth-centric romantic drama "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" (YJHD) may be a story of youngsters but it has enough elements to appeal to people of all age group, claims director Ayan Mukerji.

The Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone starrer will unleash its magic on screen May 31 and if it wows the audience and box office, Mukerji will be able to dream bigger.

"I think everyone is young and all of these emotions are universal...the relationship between two friends, the emotional value...falling in love, falling out of love, wanting to take off. The film is about young people, but not only for young people. All films are set in a certain age, but that does not mean that the film belongs to only that age bracket," Mukerji said in an interview.

Post "Wake Up Sid", an unconventional love story that had appealed to the viewers so much that it turned out to be a box office winner, Mukerji hopes to hit the bull's eye again with "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani".

"We hope to cross the mark...The Rs.100 crore club is taking away from allowing people to creatively make films. If YJHD does not make it, we will feel bad. (Rs.100 crore) It is a standard, but not a good one," he said.

Both critics ratings and ticket window collections are important, he says.

"A combination of the two matters. One does not give you happiness without the other. The film must make money, entertain people and have value," said Mukerji.

Even though he likes to work with stars, he feels the system should be done away with.

"I like the idea of being able to work with stars...But, in the western way of working this star system has disappeared. The brand of films comes with the genre of the films. It would be empowering for us as filmmakers if we are not dependent on star system and films sold more than stars," he said.

"Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" will be a game- changer for the director.

"The success will make me happy. It will not change the way I look at things. But it will be good for everyone who has worked on the film. It will allow me more freedom and I will be able to dream bigger," he explained.