Even as Manav Kaul played his grey character to perfection in Wazir (2016), director Bejoy Nambiar knew he was yet to fully tap into the actor's potential. Understandably then, Kaul was a natural choice for the lead role when Nambiar conceived and wrote the script of Zee5's short film, Dobaara. "I have known Manav since his theatre days and have always been a fan of his craft," says the director.

Considering he is relatively new to the romance genre, Kaul reveals he was surprised when Nambiar envisioned him as a romantic hero. He says, "It was strange when Bejoy offered me a romance drama, especially since I played a negative character in Wazir. He is the reason I came on board. Bejoy gives his heart and soul to a project, and I like to work with passionate people."