I'm a soft target because I'm not reacting: Sajid Khan

Buzz is, the studio backing your next film wants to back out now that Saif Ali Khan is no longer associated with the project. True?
Not true. This is a film that I signed in 2012 after Himmatwala but it was supposed to take off only after Humshakals. I never work on two films at a time. After Himmatwala too, many had said Humshakals wouldn't roll but it did and made money too. Now, after a 15-day break, I've started working with my writers on the new script. We'll develop it over the next two months and roll with the film early next year.

Seems, you were paid Rs18 crore and though the studio now want to renegotiate, the money is non-refundable.
Not true, it's fabricated.

A lot has been written about you lately...
Yes, a lot of gossip...I guess it's because of my past as TV host. I used to crack jokes about the film industry and the fraternity, laugh while reviewing films. When I turned director, it gave people a chance to hit back at me (pauses). I'm known to be outspoken but now I'm slowly learning to be politically correct.

Does this have anything to do with Himmatwala's failure?
I admit that after Himmatwala, I was depressed. The film recovered its money but was termed a flop because it failed to strike a chord with the audience.

Ditto for Humshakals...
No, kids and families connected with Humshakals, it grossed Rs 63 crore. I wish it had done better. I wish the youth had connected with it, the critics had liked it too. But even when Housefull 2 made Rs 115 crore it got bad reviews. Next time, I'll work harder to woo the critics.

The critics pointed out that Humshakals was frivolous, even regressive...
Humshakals is a slapstick comedy, That is why I dedicated the film to the masters of slapstick comedy " Peter Sellers, Jim Carrey and Kishore Kumar.

And how different is the next film going to be?
It will be youth-centric, the humour cooler, with a strong dose of romance.

So you are finally moving away from your comfort zone, slapstick comedy?
I haven't specialised in slapstick comedy. During Humshaklas the idea was to focus on visual comedy and not dialogue. The kids loved it, the youth didn't. Now we'll focus on comedy which is more situational and real.

Is this the only film you have on hand?
There are other offers too but I don't want to take names.

What kind of a star cast do you have in mind?
This script needs stars in their early or mid 20s.

Then Saif would be miscast?
If he'd done it, it would have been a different script.

Before Himmatwala, you were making tall claims that the film would do a business of Rs 200 crore...
That was childish, arrogant, immature and boastful. But in the last two years, I've changed. I will be 43 soon and have matured. I didn't make such claims for Humshakals. I've realised I'm a filmmaker and not a box-office pundit. I'll never speak that way again.

Did Sajid-Farhad replace you in Housefull 3 because Humshakals failed to meet expectations?
I was approached for Housefull 3 a year ago, and it was launched in January. So my not doing it has nothing to do with Humshakals. I've become a soft target as I'm not reacting. I don't want to react. I won't.