India, June 23 -- This was long awaited," says actor Tisca Chopra, who is marking her directorial debut with the film Saali Mohabbat that hits the screens later this year. She shares, "It has been on my bucket list as I enjoyed directing when I worked on a short film, Rubaru. Now, it's been so satisfying to write and direct a story that is close to my heart." Speaking about the film, she says the scripting was finished just before the pandemic hit in 2020. "I wrote Saali Mohabbat back then, and I remember every time I narrated the script to a potential producer, I was told, 'You have to direct this; you know it inside out'. This sentiment was echoed by Manish Malhotra (fashion designer) when I narrated the script to him. So here I am, a director, but my love for acting stays in place." While she is enjoying the new role, the last few days have been tough for Tisca, who had a close connect with the unfortunate Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad recently. "Some incidents leave an indelible mark," she says, explaining how her husband, Captain Sanjay Chopra, a former pilot for Air India, had flown with the airline for many years. She adds, "We both are still recovering from the shock. AI is dear to us. In fact, we once boarded the same aircraft that crashed. We and all our pilot friends are dealing with the loss and coping with the tragedy. Our hearts are heavy and we are praying for all those who lost their lives in the fatal accident."...