On 15th May, the film Pati Patni Aur Woh Do (Husband, Wife, and The Other Two in Hindi) was officially released in theatres. Written and directed by Mudassar Aziz, the romantic comedy is a sequel to the first film released in 2019, introducing a new main cast with sleuths of misunderstandings and wildly comedic timing.
&ASIAN spoke to the film’s leads Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan about their experience portraying their characters and the found companionship participating in an iconic project, all while bringing justice to the film’s original.
To start with Ayushmann, your character seems to be caught in complete chaos throughout the trailer. What was the most fun part about playing Prajapati Pandey?
Ayushmann Khurrana (Prajapati Pandey): At his core, Prajapati is a deeply honest man; his intentions are clean and his moral compass is intact, but his unshakeable self-belief walks him straight into one catastrophic situation after another. That gap between how capable he thinks he is and how spectacularly things unravel is where the laughter lives. You’re not laughing at a bad man; you’re laughing at a very good man who is hopelessly, hilariously out of his depth and refuses to admit it until the chaos is complete.
And Sara Ali Khan, what excited you most about joining Pati Patni Aur Woh Do?
Sara Ali Khan (Chanchal Kumari): I think I’ve been dying to do comedy for a long time. I think it’s the need of the hour. And I just wanted to be part of a film that can make people laugh and a film that you can watch with your whole family across all ages and a film that’s got an exciting role. And I feel that I can bring something new to the table with this film. And all of that happened with Pati Patni Aur Woh Do.
The film blends confusion, comedy, and relationship drama. What balance were you trying to strike with your performances?
Ayushmann: The balance wasn’t something I calculated, it came from the character himself. Prajapati is not a man trying to be funny. He’s a man trying very hard to stay in control and failing spectacularly. The moment I understood that, the performance found its own rhythm. For me, the reference points were always the greats: Sanjeev Kumar and the worlds of Padosan, Chupke Chupke, Angoor and Gol Maal. Humour from that era emerged from misunderstandings, timing and character dynamics. It was never about the “joke”, it was always about the situation and the person reacting to it. Mudassar Aziz has written a comedy of errors in the most classical sense; every misunderstanding compounds the last one and every solution creates three new problems. My job was to stay completely sincere inside that spiral.
How do you think audiences will connect with the relationships portrayed in the story?
Sara: There are many relationships shown in this film. There’s an estranged bua (aunt) that’s not in touch with her niece. There is a married couple. There’s a college friendship. There’s acquaintanceship, like a camaraderie because they’re colleagues. There’s female friendships. There’s maternal, paternal relationships. There’s the police, there’s politics, there’s the media. I mean, there’s every kind of relationship you can think of. So, yes, I think audiences will connect with at least, like, three of these relationships.
Did you improvise any scenes or comic moments during the shoot?
Ayushmann: Shooting in Prayagraj was a lot of fun; the city is almost a character itself. There’s a very specific dialect to this world and I kept going back to Mudassar for guidance, he’s exceptional with language in this genre. While there was room for improvisation and he was always open to suggestions, we mostly stuck to the screenplay. It was so well-written that it made our jobs seamless. My three leading ladies and I built a real bond on set, and we all wanted to push every scene as far as it could go.
Was there a particular scene or moment in the film that challenged you as an actor?
Sara: Honestly, I think some of the most challenging moments were in the climax, because it’s very VFX-heavy. There’s a lot of imagination involved with animals, insects, and elements that aren’t actually there on set. Personally, I don’t find acting opposite co-stars as difficult as reacting to something like a stuffed toy and treating it as a real animal. That can definitely be tricky. So I think those were the moments that challenged all of us the most.
The film has a strong ensemble cast. How did each actor bring a different energy to the story, and what was the dynamic like working with the ensemble cast on set?
Ayushmann: Rakul [Preet Singh], Sara [Ali Khan] and Wamiqa [Gabbi] are all exceptional actors who bring distinct energies that reflect beautifully in their characters. Prajapati responds to each of them differently and it always feels organic rather than forced. I’ve always enjoyed the element of surprise a co-actor brings, that unscripted moment where they do something unexpected and you instinctively respond. We bonded over food, workouts, and long drives to the location. That warmth translates directly onto the screen. A happy set makes a happy film.
Sara: It was amazing. Honestly, I think each character was so different. There was never any scope of stepping on each other’s feet. And I think when you’re working with characters and actors who are senior, whether it’s Vijay Raaz or Ayesha Raza, whether it’s Tigmanshu Sri, there’s just so much to learn. It’s just amazing to just be on those sets.
Mudassar Aziz is known for his humour-driven storytelling. What was it like collaborating with him?
Ayushmann: Working with Mudassar was a genuinely rewarding experience. His approach to comedy is something you have to witness firsthand. He has narrated most of his scripts to me. What stood out was his availability; whenever a scene needed an extra comic edge, he had an instinct for exactly what would work. I also appreciated that it was a two-way street. He would suggest how to land a scene but remain completely open to what I brought to the table. That kind of creative ease only comes from someone who has truly mastered the genre.
What did you enjoy most about the film’s tone and storytelling style?
Sara: I think the film is larger than life. The film’s tone is very, very high comedy. And I think that it’s just an unapologetic, unabashed, just humorous ride. And in the middle of all of that, there are very, very real stakes that each and every character has. So it’s situational comedy, but in a world and a zone that I’ve never delved into before, so I’m very, very excited for it.
Follow Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan on Instagram. Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, released on 15 May, is now screening in cinemas and theatres. Watch the trailer here.