Love, laughter, and a little chaos: Why 'Love Guru' might be the rom-com we need right now

Bumped into someone charming at the airport? Fell in love, tied the knot, and lived happily ever after? Classic. It’s the kind of thing cinema does best. Romantic comedies have always held a special place in our hearts, a genre that thrives on whimsy, warmth, and the universal hope of finding “the one.”

It’s fascinating how a single emotion like love has inspired countless storylines from the light-hearted to the life-changing and yet, it never runs out of ways to surprise us. Since the dawn of cinema, love has been the guiding light for filmmakers across generations. And among all love-centric genres, romantic comedies have consistently proven to be the safest and most satisfying bet.

But hasn’t the very idea of love evolved over time?

In an era where Gen Z meets Gen X, where dating apps often replace handwritten letters, and where situationships trend as fast as they fade does the classic rom-com still hold its charm? Or should the genre adapt to reflect the modern dynamics of relationships, while still preserving the timeless magic of butterflies-in-the-stomach and missed calls at midnight?

According to Pakistani superstars Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan who were recently in the UAE promoting their latest film Love Guru, the core emotion hasn’t changed. “Love strikes in its own way, regardless of the era,” they said. “The feelings, the excitement, the longing to see that person again, those stay the same. People may experience it differently, but the love is there, and it always will be.”

And that’s precisely what Love Guru promises to deliver — a contemporary take on love that still echoes with nostalgia.

Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan

Directed by Nadeem Baig and penned by Vasay Chaudhry, Love Guru follows a self-proclaimed relationship expert who dishes out advice like candy — until fate throws him a googly. A serious responsibility is suddenly thrust upon him by none other than the father of his love interest, turning his smooth-sailing life upside down.

Visually slick and entertaining, the film couldn’t have chosen a more critical time to release. Pakistani cinema is currently navigating choppy waters, with its box office momentum facing serious setbacks and not just due to creative stagnation. Recent political tensions between India and Pakistan have further restricted cinematic exchange, leaving a vacuum in cross-border entertainment.

In such a climate, Love Guru doesn’t just arrive, it lands like a saviour. Fuelled by a wave of patriotism and backed by star power, the film delivers a timely boost to local storytelling and offers Pakistani audiences around the world a chance to rally behind their own cinematic icons.

The stars have just returned from an extensive promotional tour across the USA and UK, traveling from city to city to build buzz which made us wonder: how important are film promotions today? Do stars really need to hustle once the product is ready, and can it truly affect a film’s fate?

Mahira Khan

Saeed weighed in: “We started shooting almost a year ago and kept things tightly under wraps. We didn’t want anything to leak before the film reached a stage where we were ready to talk about it. Plus, there’s been a lull in our cinemas lately, which called for out-of-the-box promotions. People need something to look forward to especially around big release windows like Eid.”

He added, “We began building anticipation strategically, first with the trailer, then the song and I think we’re targeting the right countries with the right audiences.”

Speaking of love as an emotion, we asked Khan, who has ignited passion and romance through both her television and film projects, why, if love is so powerful, it often fades.

She offered a thoughtful response: “Most romantic relationships follow a pattern that begins with infatuation and yes, that phase tends to fizzle out. Remember those butterflies in the stomach? There was even a famous Time magazine cover that said love is a chemical reaction. Brain scans showed that when you meet someone, it actually triggers that response. But over time, the intensity shifts and that’s natural. The real work is in keeping it alive. And honestly, if something stays static, where’s the fun in that?”

Another kind of love that stars thrive on is the adoration they receive from fans. But in recent times, that love has been tested whether it’s public pressure to take a political stand or moral policing over personal choices. It begs the question: is loyal fandom becoming a myth?

Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan

On this, both Saeed and Khan were in agreement. They believe the love they’ve received from fans over the years is among the most genuine they’ve ever known. “We’ve grown with them,” they shared. Even when fans confront or criticize them, they see it as coming from a place of care, love, and accountability.

“The frontliners — the original fans — they’re always there. Think of Al Pacino or Robert De Niro,” Saeed added. “We pray for these legends, we revere them. That kind of fandom doesn’t just disappear overnight.”

Lastly, we threw a tough one their way: If love happens naturally, why is there so much emphasis on making an effort once you're in it?

Khan responded with quiet clarity: “There should always be effort but you shouldn’t be keeping score. If that effort starts to feel like a burden or makes you feel bad, then you may need to rethink the relationship.”

Releasing on June 6 across the UAE, Love Guru is more than just a feel-good film. It’s a reminder that no matter how much the world changes, love in all its awkward, magical, chaotic glory still makes for the best stories.

Sadiq Saleem is a UAE based writer & can be contacted on his Instagram handle @sadiqidas