In 1993, a film named Platform was released and did average business. It featured Priya Arora (with the second name spelt ‘Aurora’ then!). She was Ajay Devgn’s heroine in the film. Priya even went on to be a Radio Jockey, a TV host, a television actor and other things. She has also been a model and a stage artiste.

In the millennium, she returned as Tisca Chopra and made waves as the anguished mother in Taare Zameen Par featuring Aamir Khan, who also produced and directed that film. She soon made a name for herself with more such movies, TV serials and web series in notable performances.

Her book Acting Smart was a best seller and is being translated into Hindi. Her second book, What’s Up With Me? was about demystifying menstruation and puberty for young girls. She has been on the Jury of the MAMI (Mumbai Academy Of Moving Images) film festival. Chutney, a short film she wrote and produced under her company, also fetched her two Filmfare Awards (for Best Actress and Best Short Film). 

In 2025, she gives another spin to a variegated career—she has turned director with Saali Mohabbat, a ZEE5 (now Z5) original film. It stars Radhika Apte, Divyenndu Sharma, Anurag Kashyap, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sauraseni Maitra and Sharat Saxena and is set to premiere later this year.

Produced by Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra’s Stage5 Production, the thriller-drama marks the celebrated designer’s digital debut as a producer — seamlessly. This also marks Z5’s fourth collaboration with Jio Studios, following Hisaab Barabar and Mrs., starring R. Madhavan, and the recent Bhagwat featuring Arshad Warsi and Jitendra Kumar. The film also sees Radhika Apte returning to the platform after her much-loved performance in Mrs. Undercover.

After premiering at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) last year and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival this year, Saali Mohabbat invites viewers into a world where love blurs into obsession and buried secrets slowly unravel. The film follows Smita (Radhika Apte), a small-town housewife whose seemingly ordinary life descends into a labyrinth of infidelity, deceit, and moral ambiguity. What begins as a tale of domestic routine soon unfolds into a gripping exploration of betrayal, revenge, and the thin, treacherous line between truth and illusion.

Tisca Chopra shares, “With Saali Mohabbat, I wanted to tell a story that feels both intimate and unsettling — one that captures a woman’s gaze in a world full of hidden fractures and polite façades. I’ve always been fascinated by the quiet tensions that exist beneath the surface of relationships — the invisible power- struggles, the unspoken expectations, the ways in which love can transform into something darker. This film explores those fragile boundaries — of trust, betrayal, and identity — but through a deeply female perspective. It’s about what happens when a woman stops conforming to the emotional roles expected of her and begins to own her truth, no matter how uncomfortable that truth might be.”

She goes on, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have had a producer as creative and instinctive as Manish Malhotra, and his production house Stage5. Manish’s response — just three minutes into the narration — gave me the conviction that this story had found its right home. He and his team supported the film not just with resources, but with genuine artistic trust and emotional understanding, allowing it to retain its raw, unpolished honesty. Directing Saali Mohabbat has been both terrifying and liberating — terrifying because it demanded emotional vulnerability, and liberating because it allowed me to step outside the boundaries women filmmakers are so often placed within. I am deeply grateful to Z5 for championing bold, layered, and thought-provoking cinema, and for bringing this story to audiences who seek something more than surface emotion. And I must also express my heartfelt gratitude to Jio Studios — for their belief in meaningful storytelling and their commitment to supporting independent, auteur-driven voices. I am truly thankful that Saali Mohabbat found a home with partners who share my vision.”

Kaveri Das, Business Head, Hindi Z5, adds, “At Z5, our constant endeavor is to bring stories that challenge conventions and connect with audiences on a deeper level. With Saali Mohabbat, we are thrilled to present a thriller that’s not just about suspense, but about the intricate emotions that drive human choices. Collaborating once again with Jio Studios and working with creative powerhouses like Manish Malhotra and Tisca Chopra has been incredibly rewarding. And of course, having Radhika Apte return to the platform with a role that showcases her depth and range makes this project even more special.”

Producer Jyoti Deshpande, President – Jio Studios (Media & Content Business, RIL) states, “At Jio Studios, our constant pursuit is to back bold voices and powerful stories that transcend genres. Saali Mohabbat is a shining example of that vision — an ingeniously crafted thriller that marks our proud collaboration with producer Manish Malhotra, who seamlessly extends his creative brilliance from fashion to film. After its successful reception at IFFI, we are delighted that Saali Mohabbat has found a home on Z5, where our stories have consistently found a wide and appreciative audience. We look forward to viewers across the globe experiencing Tisca Chopra’s riveting directorial debut.”

Producer Manish Malhotra declares, “Stage5 Production was founded with a clear intention — to back stories that are original in thought and strong in craft. In that same spirit, I’m pleased to announce our second film, Saali Mohabbat — a layered, character-driven drama that examines power, silence, and the invisible cost of human choices. This project has been built with deep involvement at every stage — from development to the final cut — because at Stage5, we don’t just produce films, we stand by them. And at the core of this vision stands Tisca Chopra, whose script and direction bring structure, nuance, and an assured creative voice to the story.”

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