Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 24, 2020)

It is believed that you can find humour in the most challenging situations, and comedy can often help one tide over a tough phase. On that note, we asked Arshad Warsi, known for his knack for comedy, about the next instalment of the successful Golmaal franchise. “We haven’t really chatted about it, but the team is working on the script with Farhad Samji (writer-turned-director). I know that Rohit Shetty (director) wants to make it, and hopefully, he will. For us, listening to the script is a formality and we do it for fun. It’s super fun to sit together and read a script like that. So, I guess the film will happen, though we don’t know when, where and how yet,” he said.

In the current scenario of Coronavirus, while several filmmakers are keen to go back on set, it’s still uncertain as to when a full-fledged movie shoot will actually begin. Also, most filmmakers are toying with the idea of roping in VFX and allied technology to shoot crowd scenes, create outdoor effects, shoot scenes involving several people in a single frame and romantic scenes. For instance, a multi-starrer like Golmaal is bound to have many members of the cast in one frame.

To this, Arshad said, “I feel, and I could be wrong about this, but this is a time when technology will help us make the films that we want to make. Yes, when you create a crowd using VFX, you lose out on the beauty of realism, which is sad. For romantic scenes, you need that personal touch. In due course, things will be fine. With a strong immune system, I guess you can eventually work with multiple people in a frame. If my co-star is healthy, I don’t mind doing a romantic scene. And, if we have all been medically cleared, I don’t mind doing a scene with multiple people in it.”

Arshad Warsi opens up on his career’s first spookfest, Golmaal 5 and Munnabhai 3, and silently dabbling in art of a different kind
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 14, 2020)

Arshad Warsi admits that he loves being home so much, Anees Bazmee once called to point out that the Coronavirus lockdown shouldn’t make any difference to him. His life hasn’t changed much. He is getting narrations on video calls and it’s work as usual, with him enjoying himself hugely.

The actor will next be seen in the Bhumi Pednekar-starrer Durgavati. Their last schedule had just wrapped up when all hell broke loose. Arshad, who plays a politician with grey shades, goes on to rave about his dedicated leading lady. “Bhumi is the female Aamir Khan. She will keep on giving retakes till she is satisfied. Durgavati is a really good but difficult film for an actress. This girl has gone to hell and back while the film was being shot,” he shares.

Meanwhile, Rohit Shetty confirmed to Mirror (November 30, 2019) that he is returning with the fifth instalment of the Golmaal franchise. Quiz Arshad, who plays Madhav, on the series, and he says on this film’s set, everybody just knows what to do. “I believe they are scripting currently. It will be crazy fun, I’m waiting for a narration. The madness of the characters and the fun we have making the film is what brings people in,” he reasons, equally gung-ho about Munnabhai 3. Any updates, you ask Circuit, and he remarks, “I know what everyone else knows. The idea is to make it, when and how is still to be figured out. I’m happy to do the film because people like it, but personally, I want to move on to new things.”

He is kicked about one big budget film. “I’m also excited about a horror film being directed by Samir Tewari, with whom I collaborated on Mr Joe B Carvalho earlier. I have not done horror before, but this story grabbed my attention. It is scary and unpredictable till the last shot,” he promises, certain that things will change after the lockdown. “All the backlog of this year and next year will pile up in 2021. Shooting’s going to be tough, it will take time for things to get back to normal.”

He recently introduced the Instagram world to Arshad, the painter. Shyly, he informs that not many know that he has been painting for a while. “I used to paint a lot before, then, I stopped. Recently, I started again, and have been engrossed since. I hang up all my paintings in a small gallery at home and friends come to pick whatever they like,” he laughs.

On May 2, his daughter Zene turned 13. The celebrations aren’t over yet. “My daughter celebrates her birthday for days with multiple parties. She has kept count and told us that we owe her a number of parties for when she can step out,” he says fondly, adding that even the lockdown celebration was a hoot. “She cut three cakes—in the morning, afternoon and evening, and was on video calls with her friends. She still expects a party after the lockdown,” he sighs.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 30, 2019)

After hitting paydirt with Golmaal in 2006, Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn followed up with Golmaal Returns in 2008 and Golmaal 3 in 2010, making it the first Hindi film franchise to complete a trilogy. Then, the filmmakers took a seven-year break before returning with a fourth instalment, Golmaal Again, in 2017, promising to not take as long a break for the fifth part of the comic caper. Mirror has now learnt that the duo has kept their word. The team has already started working on Golmaal Five, which will be produced by Rohit and Shibasish Sarkar.

The last outing was a horror-comedy and for the next, the makers have come up with yet another novel concept. “Brainstorming sessions started earlier this year and they have finally zeroed in on an exciting plot,” informs a source close to the development. With the story locked, Rohit’s team of writers are now developing the screenplay and dialogue draft. The film is expected to go on the floors next year, once Rohit completes his production assignments.

With this instalment, Golmaal will become the first Bollywood franchise to have a run of five films and Ajay is excited about the development. “Rohit and I are committed to the next instalment of Golmaal, because, like we said during one of our earliest films, it’s fun unlimited and my favourite series,” confirms the actor.

Apart from the leading man, franchise regulars—Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu, Shreyas Talpade and Mukesh Tiwari—will also reprise their roles of Madhav, Lucky, Laxman 1, Laxman 2 and Vasooli Bhai respectively.

However, this time around, the script has scope for new characters and casting is still underway. “The female lead will be signed by early next year,” reveals the source.

Rohit and Ajay have successfully collaborated on 10 films—Zameen, Golmaal, Sunday, Golmaal Returns, Golmaal 3, Singham, All The Best, Bol Bachchan, Singham Returns and Golmaal Again. The actor also had an extended cameo as Bajirao Singham in Rohit’s last directorial, Simmba, headlined by Ranveer Singh, and donned the khaki again for a special appearance in his next, Sooryavanshi, which features Akshay Kumar in the titular role. The filmmaker launched the trailer of Ajay’s 100th film Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero recently.

Rohit is currently wrapping up the fourth film in his cop-universe which is gearing up for a March 2020 release. According to the source, he wanted to take a break from cop films and decided it was time for Golmaal once more.