Vikramaditya Motwane’s directorial CTRL, starring Ananya Panday in the lead role, has released on Netflix and is making waves for all the right reasons. Recently, the director shared his thoughts on a possible sequel to the film and mentioned that he had originally planned a different ending in the first draft. He explained that Nella’s vengeful ending did not align with the flow of the story, especially given the constraints of the screenlife format, leading him to make changes.
As reported by Hindustan Times, when Vikramaditya Motwane was asked about the possibility of a sequel in which Naila seeks revenge, perhaps without the screenlife format, he expressed skepticism. He said, “Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t buy the sequel. I think in Nella’s case, she’s doomed. She’s gone down that rabbit hole again.” Vikramaditya believes that CTRL should remain a cautionary tale rather than evolve into a revenge-driven tale.
Vikramaditya initially explored a different ending for the film, where Naila’s journey takes a vengeful turn. In the first draft, she sets out to settle the score, but the adversity she faced required a choice: either stay true to the screenlife format or go for a more traditional climax.
He shared that it became clear that incorporating such a dramatic change would not fit naturally into the structure of the story, especially with the limitations of the format. He said, “At that moment we realized why would anyone in their right mind stream it or shoot it, what would be the screenlife element? So quickly, it went out the window.”
From the beginning, the director had a clear vision for the film, aiming to make it a truly collaborative project. He credits the authenticity of the film to Sumukhi Suresh, who wrote the dialogues, and Ananya Pandey, who brought the story to life. Recognizing his distance from the digital-savvy world of 20-year-olds, Vikramaditya did not want to dictate how the young characters should navigate the Internet.
Instead, they wisely brought in the right people to ensure that the film resonates with a generation that understands the digital landscape far better than they do. According to him, this collaborative spirit shaped the modern edge of the film.
In shaping the film’s second lead character, Alan – the artificial intelligence avatar with whom Ananya Panday’s character Nela interacts, Vikramaditya took a different approach from the iconic AI portrayals seen in films like Her and Ex Machina. Rather than create a ’boutique’ AI with a singular, artistic vision, they opted for a more reliable, mass-market creation.
Motwane revealed that Elon was designed with the mindset of what a mainstream company would release to the masses – a versatile app that could manage social media, erase past mistakes, and be a friend, Can serve as philosophical and guidance at the same time. To appeal to a wider audience, Allen was given customizable personality traits ranging from playful comic flirt to science geek, allowing users to choose the type of AI they wanted. He shared that this design choice kept Alan personable and accessible, without veering into the high-concept AI territory of the previous films.
CTRL marks the first-time collaboration between director Vikramaditya Motwane and actress Ananya Panday. The film features a diverse cast like Vihaan Samat, Devika Vats, Kamakshi Bhatt, Suchita Trivedi, Samit Gambhir, Ravish Desai and Aparshakti Khurana, who add depth and variety to the story. CTRL releases on Netflix on October 4.
Also read: CTRL director Vikramaditya Motwane defends Ananya Panday against ‘Nepo Kid’ criticism; Called Sonam Kapoor ‘one of the biggest readers in the industry’
