Salman-Govinda no ego issues!!

By Subhash K Jha

The bonding beefs up. The entire entertainment industry is abuzz with talks of the first-rate rapport between Salman and Govinda on the sets of Partner.

If all goes well, the duo will encore their characters all over again in a sequel.

"And why not? Why just a sequel? I'd like to make the duo a continuous source of entertainment. Salman plays Prem for the umpteenth time.

Ever since that name clicked for Salman in Sooraj Barjatya's cinema he has requested for that name, and I've readily complied. Govinda plays Bhaskar Diwakar Chowdhary. The Prem-Bhaskar duo are a laugh riot."

David is already planning what to do with the devilish duo. "Everyone loved Salman with Akshay Kumar in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. In many ways audiences will like this jodi even more. I've never seen a pair have so much fun before.

It comes from Salman's genuine generosity. And also from the fact that I've been close friends with both Salman and Govinda for years and have done the maximum number of films with them individually."

David admits he was apprehensive while bringing his two favourite actors together.

"It often happens that you may like two people equally. But those two may not like one another. That wasn't the case with Salman and Govinda. They got along like a house on fire. I'm going to be using that chemistry again for sure, and not just once."

And suppose David is accused of borrowing the Munnabhai-Circuit idea?

David chortles heartily. "I've been making moves for twenty years. Partner is my 39th film. I've been around long enough to see trends change. I came when Prakash Mehra was active. Now I'm here when Raju Hirani is active. That quite something, isn't it?"

He stops and then reveals, "Do you know I must be the only director to have worked with Rajesh Khanna (in Swarg), his wife Dimple Kapadia (in Aag Ka Gola). His elder daughter Twinkle (in Jodi No.1), his younger daughter Rinki (in Yeh Hai Jalwa) and Rajesh Khanna's son-in-law Akshay Kumar (in Mr & Mrs Khiladi and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi)."

David sees no problem in accommodating egoes of any size on his set. "Salman and Govinda have no ego issues with each other. Throughout Partner they were falling over each other trying to be generous to one another. It'd be a delight to make them a permanent jodi."