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It would not be unfair to describe forty-something filmmaker Ashwni Dhir as a relative unknown in Bollywood...

Written by EXPRESS FEATURES SERVICE
March 11, 2010 03:59 AM IST

2 min read

It would not be unfair to describe forty-something filmmaker Ashwni Dhir as a relative unknown in Bollywood,but for someone who is the brainchild behind one of the most popular TV comedy serials Office Office ,coming out with a comedy film is seen with a lot of anticipation. I like to take a satirical look at serious stories emerging from society, says Dhir,in between sips of coffee at the Le Meridien hotel. With his second directorial venture Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge released on March 5,Dhir is unusually upbeat about this particular film. It is surprising since his debut film One Two Three in 2008,did not ring in the cash registers. I think I managed to cover my bases with my debut film. I have treated this film like my TV serial Office Office, explains Dhir,who has also written the story for this film.

Inspired by an article on Indian customs written by satirist Sharad Joshi which Dhir read a few years ago,Dhir built on his characters with references from his roots while growing up in Kanpur. So in Atithi,Dhir has taken a jab at the nuclear family set-up of urban India where couples dont have time to mingle unconditionally with guests and time is a luxury for them. Actors Ajay Devgn and Konkana Sen portray an upwardly mobile couple in Mumbai who are visited by their distant relative,portrayed by actor Paresh Rawal,from small town Gorakhpur. I have not told the tale in the usual slapstick narrative of Bollywood comedies. The suspense builds up with the story focussing on how guests are revered like gods in our country,leading up to a point when a guest becomes unwanted, says Dhir. There are contemporary references,including one to former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. I attempt to tell stories that make you think, he smiles. For now,he is putting final touches to the big screen version of Office Office,which releases in July.