Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; December 9, 2017)

Amidst their whirlwind promotional tour ahead of the film’s release yesterday, Team Fukrey Returns took some time off to go on a seaside date with BT on a beautiful breezy evening. The group, comprising lead actors Richa Chadha, Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma and Manjot Singh, owned Marine Drive with their antics as they posed exclusively for our cameras. We also took them for a drive around SoBo during which they spoke about their camaraderie, the Delhi vs Mumbai debate and their film. The lads joked that they considered Richa as one of them (read londa). The actress nodded in affirmative, as she made Manjot sit on her lap so that we all could fit in the car! Here’s what transpired on that hilarious journey. Excerpts...

Looks like Manjot is the baby of the gang. Having worked together in Fukrey,we’re sure that you all are extremely comfortable with each other. So, how was it reuniting for the sequel?
Richa: Manjot wants to be the baby. (Asks him) ‘Itni badi daadi ho gayi hai, tu bada kab hoga?’ As far as reuniting with these boys is concerned, I have worked with men, who were senior and serious, during the Gangs of Wasseypur. They used to discuss 1975 or 1982 mein kya hua. With the Fukras, I can talk and laugh about banal and crazy things. It could be with anyone — Ali (Fazal), Pulkit, Manjot or Choocha (Varun Sharma).
Varun: Fukrey was my debut film and I was thrilled to see myself in a movie. To reunite for the sequel was nostalgic. The chemistry we share off screen reflects on screen as well. We hope that people have jhamfaad fun this time around, too.

Pulkit, Fukrey had struck a chord with the youngsters, especially your song Ambarsariya. What can we expect from the sequel?
The story picks up a year after the events that unfolded in Fukrey. Bholi Punjaban (Richa) is out of the prison and she is back with a vengeance. It’s double the fun this time around. In Ambarsariya, I was trying to woo the girl (Priya Anand), but this time around, the song, Ishq De Fanniyar, shows us dating. However, there’s still no French kiss (smiles).

Talking about each other, what’s that one quality of your co-star that you find most fascinating?
Pulkit: Richa is very knowledgeable, she can make you feel like an idiot. She knows a lot, is a good orator, has good command over languages and you can have a healthy debate with her. There will be disagreements, but she will listen to you. At the end of the day, it’s like aaj humne kya sikha? Varun inspires me a lot. Put him in any tricky situation and he will come out victorious. Manjot achcha hai (all laugh). The most fun we have is when we all get together to make fun of him; he cracks terrible jokes.
Richa: I never make him feel like an idiot! Pulkit is a typical Punjabi boy — he is protective and he likes to feed people — he gets us the food we like. Just the other day, he got broccoli manchurian for me, which Manjot ate. Also, he doesn’t like to eat alone. So, the credit of us eating together goes to him. He’s a gentleman. Even during promotions, he takes care of us. As far as Varun is concerned, usko dekhte hi hasi aati hai. He is very hard-working; Manjot is the bakra in the film and in real life.
Manjot: Inka din nahi dhalta, mujhse pange liye bina. They are all very sweet to me.

Work ceases to be work when you are with your friends, right?
Richa: That’s true. I’ve never had an experience like this before; we didn’t even know ke picture shoot kab ho gayi.
Manjot: The Fukrey franchise is an addiction, we are pampered and spoilt by Excel Entertainment (production company). I don’t know what I’ll do after the film releases. We hope that people like the sequel and demand a third installment.

What was the vibe on the set during breaks?
Pulkit: We shot in the months of November and December in Delhi when it was freezing cold. So, during breaks, we would sit in front of a fireplace with a quilt.
Varun: All of us eat together. We didn’t have a single meal on our own, except for Manjot, who never shared his food (laughs). Even now, he hasn’t offered us the fruit that he has been nibbling on.

Since your film is set in Delhi, do you think there are any differences between Mumbai and Delhi Fukras?
Varun: Fukrey fukrey hotay hain. Language could be different, but dil same hota hai. Fukron ki zindagi umeed pe nahi, jugaad pe kaayam hai.
Richa: Delhi Fukras have more time. For Mumbai’s Fukras, life is busier and there’s so much traffic! We had so much time in Delhi for ourselves.

Continuing the Mumbai vs Delhi debate, what are the major differences between the two cities?
Pulkit: Delhi has the best food when compared to any other city in the country. We also have winters! On the other hand, you’ll find medical stores in every nook and corner of Mumbai, which is great. Of course, now you have those 24/7 stores in Delhi too, but not as many as in Mumbai. Plus the cycle pe garma garam chai and idli that you get in Mumbai, you won’t find it in Delhi.
Varun: Mumbai has no open roads and no playgrounds in schools. There’s severe space crunch. In Delhi, you can discover an internal route where tum gedi maar sakte ho. Raat ko Marine Drive pe Punjabi log shaayad gedi maarte honge. If you listen to loud music in cars, you know a guy is with a girl.