Director Indra Kumar swears by something that the late lyricist Indeevar had taught him years ago. “He told me, ‘In the field of art, every 15 years, shake yourself up and remake yourself.’ I never forgot his words,” recounts the filmmaker. Thank God is his attempt at that. After several laugh riots, which include Masti (2004) and Total Dhamaal (2019), Kumar wanted to tell a more meaningful story within the premise of a comedy.

“In 2019, I realised it has been 15 years since Masti. I needed a change. I thankfully found a subject that resonated with me. Thank God has the usual comedic moments, but it is all heart.”

Through the Ajay Devgn and Sidharth Malhotra-starrer, the director explores how people are caught up in everyday life and take things for granted. The film, he hopes, will hold a greater sentimental value in the post-pandemic world. “Philosophical things are best said with humour. We are blessed with so much, but we sometimes don’t even stop to appreciate them. I want to send a message to the audience about being thankful for the everyday blessings. We wrote the film before the pandemic, but it is serendipitous that it is coming when the learnings of the pandemic are slowly setting in.”

While Devgn remains one of his favourites, Kumar is impressed by Malhotra. “He caught the essence of what I was making. Actors don’t readily want to play a flawed man, but Sidharth lapped it up.”