Think of a Sooraj Barjatya film and one instantly recalls Anupam Kher's smiling face. He is the affable father figure who adds to the mirth and melodrama that is a staple of these family entertainers. But in Barjatya's next, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Kher is 'Diwan Sahab', a member of the court. Like Salman, who plays a king and a boxer, Kher has a dual role too but refuses to divulge any details about the other character except to say that he's a “humorous and interesting guy who is close to Prem“.

The two actors were last seen on screen together in Barjatiya's 1994 superhit, Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!. Kher teamed up with Barjatya in 2006 for the Shahid Kapoor-Amrita Rao starrer Vivah. “But Sooraj and I have come together with Salman, the original Prem after eight years,“ says Kher.

However, before Prem Ratan Dhan Payo hits the theatres this Diwali, Kher will be seen as agent Shukla, an undercover geek alongside Akshay Kumar in Neeraj Pandey's Baby. The counter-terrorist drama will unveil this Republic Day. “You won't see me smiling in even a single shot in Baby, but I'm all smiles when I hold court in Sooraj's film,“ he points out. I also start shooting for Sanjay Gupta's Jazbaa this month.“ The film will mark Aishwarya Rai's comeback on screen after a five-year hiatus.