Bangistan, a smart comedy that brings out the bromance between Riteish Deshmukh and Pulkit Samrat, is coming this month-end. Besides the terrific chemistry that the two of them share on screen, they also have an affable relationship off-screen. And this was more than evident, when Bombay Times met them for this question-and-answer session. Excerpts from our chat...

Would you classify Bangistan as a dark comedy?
Riteish: I don't think it is a dark comedy. Primarily, it is a story of two guys, brainwashed into becoming suicide bombers who go on a mission. Eventually, on their journey, they realise their vision. There is a larger thought with everybody talking about peace, love and harmony. Now, this journey could be in a thriller format or it could be an action film. But the director (Karan Anshuman) dramatically chose to make a satire. He has imaginatively used fun and jokes about real-life situations..

Both of you must have had a blast doing the film.
Riteish: Absolutely, there were many firsts for me. It is my first film with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's production house, and also my first experience with a non-Indian DOP (Director of Photography). Then, I shot in Ladakh for the first time and it's also my first film with Pulkit. It is a funny story, there is a lot of humour but the humour is very different from what I was doing for so many years. It was challenging to keep a poker face and yet convey the humour. I guess that is the writer's victory more than the actor's performance.
Pulkit: It was great fun, especially because I had Riteish as my costar. He's great with his comic timing and I had to match up to his work and talent, which was a lot of hard work for me. I learnt a lot from him because he has been here for a long time and is technically very strong. I learnt how to go beyond the script.

You guys have experimented with your looks too, isnt it?
Riteish: The character demanded those particular looks. This is the first time I play a Muslim character and that too in an Afghani style with a long beard. My character converts or morphs himself into a Hindu guy, a Pandit. That kind of transformation was fun to do in the same film. But my getup also gave me a bit of grief. I was shooting in Poland, 600 ft below ground level, in a cave, which is converted into a museum and now it's kind of a small township. There was no network there and I came up to make a call in my get-up, sporting a long beard, jacket and cap. I saw a guy playing with his daughter close by and as soon as he saw me, he immediately took his daughter away and left. I felt insulted at that point. That man, I felt, was prejudiced and judgemental. That was the sad part, the tragedy.
Pulkit: Something similar happened with me in the hotel room. Before I shaped my beard for the role, I had a normal stubble. I would call for room service and a girl would attend to me, come with my food, etc. The moment I shaped it for the Muslim character I was playing, and as soon as she saw me, she did an about turn. She went back and sent a guy with the food. That's really sad.

Pulkit is all beefed up and macho, while you have maintained a lean frame...
Riteish: I have been helping him train. I want him to achieve his target. I am a great motivator, and he feels the same about me. (Looking at Pulkit with a mischievous grin) Yeh bicep mujhe udhar dede Thakur...

As a society, are we mature enough to accept these kinds of subjects, laugh it off and take the message from there?
Riteish: As a society, most of us are fine, but a few people aren't. Some people like to react prematurely. Some do it for effect, some just want to show off saying 'I reacted first, I reacted before you'. This film doesn't intentionally look down upon anyone or any religion. There might be one person who may have a weird thought, we are catching that one person and taking the story ahead. Largely, we are sorted people and live in a peaceful world. There could be someone thinking otherwise and making an issue out of it. Watch the entire film and you will know the larger message.

Pulkit, you seem to be deeply influenced by Salman Khan. It's said that your mannerisms are a lot like him. Is it conscious?
Pulkit: It is scary as well as a good comparison. If I had to choose any one quality of Salman, I would love to be the human being that he is and the stardom will follow.

Riteish, you were flooded with comments when you posted your son's picture on a social networking site. What was the thought behind it?
Riteish: As an actor, I'm used to this lifestyle wherein photographers and general public click our pictures and post it on some site. This is bound to happen. But the day I posted my son, Riaan's picture, that day was very important for me. It was my father's 70th birthday and I wanted to make the occasion more special. I was being asked for that picture by fans for a very long time and it's going to come out some day or the other. Genelia and I decided that we might as well put up a decent picture on that day.

You refused the third installment of Kyaa Kool Hain Hum and were apprehensive about doing Great Grand Masti, as you were not keen on adult comedies after turning a family man.
Riteish: I said yes to Great Grand Masti post Riaan. (Laughs) I thought I would never do an adult comedy because I find them to be a bit loud. Eventually I agreed. It's a big lesson in life - never say never.

But what is your view on adult comedies?
Riteish: I think they are great. It is a genre that needs to be tapped in India. The kind of humour that is slightly naughty has always been part of our culture for hundreds of years. Earlier, people working in farms, tilling the field would go for these tamashas and nautankis for their nightouts. They used to have slightly naughty entertainment. Dada Kondke was a pioneer in this genre in Marathi cinema. He was respected and never looked down upon. Today, if a film like Grand Masti has done decent business, it means there are huge numbers, which is not just because of the youth watching movies but also because of senior family audiences. I know of a large number of women and men, who sat together and watched the film. They have had loads of fun, gone home and moved on. I agree it is a very sensitive genre, but if we handle it in a responsible manner, it can be thoroughly entertaining.
Pulkit: Ritiesh you are the only actor who makes it look naughty but not cheap.

Have you cut down on your work to spend more time with your family?
Riteish: I have seen so many fathers on sets. Be it Vivek, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn or Shah Rukh Khan. I have seen how they deal with their children. That time, I was single but you eventually figure out how to do it. When Genelia was pregnant, I was busy and I couldn't give her enough time. But thankfully, when Riaan was born, I got to spend three months at home as my film got pushed ahead. But I do believe that as a husband and father, you need to have time for your family. The joy of parenthood makes me want to go back home.