India, June 19 -- E ven as Main Vaapas Aaunga (MVA) records a gradual uptick at the box office, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali says he always expected the film to find its audience over time rather than through a blockbuster opening. "We are not a star-driven film, so it was supposed to be like this. If people like it, they will tell others to watch it, and that's how the film will grow," he says. Ali is particularly encouraged by the response from younger viewers, who he believes are yearning for deeper connections. "I feel the younger generation needs love the most. They are sensitive, romantic and seeking commitment, but they are often misunderstood and labelled as flaky. Their lives are different from previous generations, but they are searching for something meaningful," he says. Set against the backdrop of Partition, the film intertwines a love story with the lived experiences of survivors. "When I heard their stories of what they've seen, what they remember now after 78 years, I realised that no love story can happen in a vacuum. It happens in the real world, and the real world of the era of partition was necessary for the setting of this love story," says Ali. He was also unfazed about mounting a large-scale film led by relatively new actors Vedang Raina and Sharvari. "I am a man, not from the trade, but from the art of filmmaking. I do understand the power of cinema and performance, and also the power of good casting. If all those things come together, then there is a certain power that is created. I had no doubt that both these actors will be able to headline this story well," he says, adding, "But I also knew that on the poster, there is also Diljit (Dosanjh). Everybody in the world knows him and they are interested to see what he's doing.I was sure that there was goingto be a poster appeal because heis there."...