The Real Deal

When I was shooting for Chandni Bar with Tabu,she suggested that I make a comedy,because of the pranks I played on the sets. But after Chandni Bar,my image as a ‘realistic’ filmmaker stuck with the audiences. Also,there were so many subjects that attracted me that I continued in the same bracket. The idea for this comedy came to me when I was finishing Fashion. But the script of Jail was ready. As soon as I was done with Jail,I started work on Dil Toh.

You have said your comedy is inspired by Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee films. What aspects have you taken from their films?

It is the characters—the common man,which they both explored so wonderfully. Be it Amol Palekar in Chhoti Si Baat or Dinesh Thakur in Rajnigandha,they represented the middle class society. Mine is very much in the same parameters and very real.

Why is realism so important to you?

I have struggled to reach where I am today. So I feel that I represent the common man. The film industry is very superficial and equations change very quickly here. I always see myself in my characters and hence like to portray them realistically.

Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi had a huge hit this year —Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. Their pair is an added advantage to you.

It is a bonus for me. The best part is Once Upon is serious and intense,whereas this one is a comedy. And the camaraderie between them is fabulous.

Omi Vaidya as Chatur became the nation’s favourite comedian after 3 Idiots. Did you have to work hard on his character to make it different?

When we started work,I told Omi that people should forget Chatur and remember Milind Kerkar. He has worked very hard at getting rid of his American accent.

Are there any sections of society which you feel you haven’t dealt with in your films?

Six months ago,I went to a hospital to meet a friend’s father and the doctors there thought I was making a movie on hospitals and had come for research. I had gone for a school function and the parents there asked me to make a film on donation issues. I feel I have become moral police,but right now I am not in that state of mind.

Did the failure of Jail pull you out of serious cinema?

No. Jail did not do well at the box office,but was critically acclaimed. I am still trying to figure out why it failed.

Sequels seem to be a hot favourite with filmmakers. Haven’t you considered making a sequel of any of your films?

Many people have suggested I make sequels to my films. In fact,somebody suggested that I make a Corporate sequel pegged on the Radiia tapes. But not right now.

Has Heroine been shelved?

Heroine at this moment has been shelved. The scripting was taking a lot of time.

What’s happening with the Lalit Modi biopic you were planning?

I definitely met Lalit Modi at one point and I was contemplating making a movie. But then it just fizzled out. But one never knows what could happen in the future.