priyadarshan

People do not come to see stars in my film...

...they come to see a 'Priyadarshan' film, says the filmmaker

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

By churning out at least three films in a year do you compromise on the creative department?

You tell me. (Smiles) I am a very passionate filmmaker and I have always wanted to make entertaining films. I can never sit idle and constantly think about my next project. While on a project, I always line up my next ventures. A creative person is constantly thinking about new plots and ideas. I might make three films a year but not at the cost of compromising on a particular department. Moreover all my films are appreciated by the audience and by the critics.


Why did you decide to make a film based on a lottery?

My film Malamaal Weekly is not just about a lottery. It focuses on the basic greed in people, if not for money then for fame or something else. Lottery is just a prop to show this.


Why didn't you cast commercially successful stars for the film?
My work has never been dictated by the star system. It's only when I finish writing the script that I think of the actors. I believe the casting is crucial – if you cast a wrong person for certain character it can spoil everything, even if the script is good. For example I knew no one but Akshay Kumar was good enough for his role in Garam Masala. The same logic was applicable when I worked with Salman Khan in Kyonki. He might be a star, but I signed him because he suited the character in my film. I share a very good rapport with all my stars and if I want to cast them, nobody refuses the project. People don't come to see stars in my films; they come to see a 'Priyadarshan' film. When you see this film you will realise why I chose Ritesh Deshmukh and Reema Sen for it.


Can you explain Paresh Rawal's hideous look in the film.

(Laughs) He is playing a villager who is a lottery vendor by profession, so I wanted to give him a look that suited the role. Paresh's look is the work of my make-up artist which I thought suited his character.


You are going to create a record working with Paresh Rawal, since you always cast him in your films?

I share a brilliant rapport with Paresh. He is one actor who never asks me about the character, but readily agrees to work with me. I can cast him as the hero or in just one scene, he never questions me. I have seen his performance in Ketan Mehta's Sardar, and I think he is still to get his due as an actor in Bollywood. He is a tremendous actor and can play all roles convincingly. Given an opportunity, I will always work with Paresh.


Why do you prefer to make comedies?

I prefer to play with the emotions of people. Anything you show the audience should touch them. And frankly, making a comedy is far more difficult than making a serious film. I admire Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Mouse. I have grown up seeing animations and I still love watching the Cartoon Network. In fact, you will find some of the comic situations in my films similar to Tom and Jerry. I think Mickey Mouse is the biggest hero created by us. It's not that I haven't tried making serious cinema. My film Kyonki was based on a mentally disturbed patient's life, which unfortunately didn't work, now I hope they laugh with Malamaal Weekly.


What are the future projects you are working on?

There is a romantic comedy Chup Chup Ke with Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor and then I am planning to make a film on anti piracy, which would be the first in India. I am yet to finalise the cast and the crew for the film.