Riteish Deshmukh admits that his wife has been looking at scripts and has her reasons to believe that no one can play the baddie better than him
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 22, 2019)

Riteish Deshmukh is gearing up for a homecoming this Diwali with the Sajid Nadiadwala production, Housefull 4. The actor, who has been a regular fixture in the franchise with Akshay Kumar, says, “Housefull will always appeal to me for the reunions. Also, the subject is unique each time, like the reincarnation comedy in Part 4. There is confusion galore, and there is a plot too, which is interesting.”

The 40-year-old actor reveals that Khiladi Kumar and he became friends on the sets of the 2007 comedy, Heyy Babyy. “When we’re sitting together, we understand the space we are in. Sometimes, when there are people around and we need to say something that should stay between us, we communicate by simply looking at each other. Akshay is a friend and brother who’ll always be there for me and vice versa,” he says.

He also notes that Housefull 4 marks his seventh collaboration with Nadiadwala after Heyy Babyy, past Housefull instalments, his Marathi production Lai Bhaari, which the producer had penned, and now, the Ahmed Khan-directed Baaghi 3. “More than a producer, Nadiadwala is a friend. Our conversations range from politics and business to clothes and shoes. When we were shooting for Heyy Babyy and Housefull 1 and 2, he was on the sets every day. All of us had a great time going for movies and meals together,” he reminisces.

Last month, the actor started shooting for Baaghi 3. “I’ve been a part of four franchises— Housefull, Masti, Kya Kool… and Dhamaal—and Baaghi is the first one that I am entering in the third instalment. This is also the first time I am playing a cop in a Hindi film,” he informs.

Then, there’s Milap Zaveri’s Marjaavaan, in which he plays the antagonist. “One day, Milap just said that he wanted to make this film. I’d grown my beard and hair for another film and we worked around the look, adding a tika, a gold watch and loose pants with oversized shirts. If you ask Genelia (Deshmukh, actress-wife), she will say no one can play a villain better than me, though she has her own reasons to say that,” laughs Riteish.

The actress was last seen in a song in their home production Mauli (right). Are there plans for a comeback? “I hope I get a chance to work with her again and that she returns on screen. She’s a unique actor and I love her work. She has been listening to scripts, but nothing has excited her so far,” he says.

On the production front, the actor shares that he and his team are working on a few subjects. “We will lock something in the next two-three months. I hope to find a subject I can produce in Hindi, but Marathi would be a constant,” Riteish asserts, pointing out that he is also gearing up to play Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in National Award-winning filmmaker Ravi Jadhav’s next. “It’s a huge responsibility. We should be taking it on the floors next year.”

As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 16, 2019)

I have been passionate about sports since I was a child. Starting out with extracurricular activities in school, I moved to badminton and started participating in tournaments across the country. I was 12 when I took part in a district-level tournament in the under-13, under-16 and under-19 categories. I won the competition across all age groups and got a cash prize of Rs 3,500 with which I gifted my mother a landline.

I continued playing badminton, but whenever the coach took a break, the boys would teach me to play cricket. That’s how I fell in love with that sport too, picked up the game real fast and was soon playing it professionally.

Then, I went to college at St. Xaviers, Mumbai, where the theatre culture is active. That’s how I caught the eye of Atul Kasbekar, ace photographer who has now turned producer. He suggested I give modelling a shot. I must have been 18 then and followed up on his advice. Modelling was a lot of fun as I got to travel to new places and be photographed, which was great.

My first TV commercial (left) was with actor Nakuul Mehta for a scooter brand. The first print ad was for a clothing line. I continued modelling through my college years as a result of which badminton and cricket took a backseat because my college was strict about attendance and I could only pursue one thing at a time.

In fact, Kiran More’s (former cricketer) daughter, was an assistant director on my debut Hindi film, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya. One day, Kiran sir had dropped by on the set and we took a break to play cricket with him. He was so impressed by my skills, that he asked me to give him three months after the shoot, telling me that given the way I play, I still had a chance to get into the women’s cricket team. That opportunity had come my way a couple of times even before that. But something else always took precedence.

While dabbling in theatre and modelling, I had decided to give acting a shot, following in the footsteps of my grandmother, Usha Kiran, and aunt Tanve Azmi. Mirzya happened after six crazy months of auditioning. Out of several aspirants, only two of us were selected and sent to Delhi for training, followed by another round of audition after which they finally zeroed in on me to play Suchitra opposite Harsh (Varrdhan Kapoor). I even went on to do a Marathi action film, Mauli, co-starring Riteish Deshmukh in a double role. Acting is a lot of fun.

Interestingly, as a child, I have worked at my parents’ restaurants (Adwait and Uttara Mhatre Kher) in Nashik. After their stint at a prominent five star hotel in Mumbai, they shifted to Nashik and started three restaurants. During vacations, my sister, Saunskriti, who was 13 then and I, two years younger, would manage one of the restaurants, Bombay Talkies, themed around Hindi films. I would take care of the kitchen, ordering around full-grown men to fill out orders from customers, while my sister would take orders and manage the guests. It was an enriching experience interacting with strangers and dealing with problems a 11-year-old girl is usually unaware of. I remember once a Jain customer was mistakenly served a chicken sizzler by the waiter. Thankfully, my sister saved the situation. On another occasion, an unruly group of college kids were fooling around in the hotel and broke a big glass door. That was the one time when we had to call our mother to handle things.

We had those restaurants for seven years and worked there for around four years during holidays. I enjoy cooking myself and was obsessed with how roomali rotis were made at the restaurant. I even learnt to bake brownies and pizzas and dish out yummy frankies.

Even today we have a boutique farm stay in Nashik where my plan is to organise workshops, establish a theatre residency and conduct music classes. I will love doing all this whenever time permits.

Unhappy with CBFC's A certificate, Riteish Deshmukh reworks six scenes of Mauli to procure UA rating
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 14, 2018)

Riteish Deshmukh's home production Mauli hasn't had a smooth journey from the Censor Board office to the big screen. We hear the Aditya Sarpotdar-directed actioner was initially granted an A certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

However, Deshmukh and the director apparently edited the scenes in contention and knocked on the doors of the Revising Committee to ensure that the film is granted a UA certification.

A source reveals, "After the viewing on Monday, the CBFC proposed an A certificate if the movie was to be passed without any cuts. But Riteish, along with the director, went back to the editing table and reworked six scenes - while one sequence included expletives, the others depicted gory and excessive violence. They submitted the reworked version to the Revising Committee on Wednesday, and procured a UA certificate."

Speaking to mid-day, Deshmukh said, "We have made a family film. The Censor Committee loved it, but since Marathi films had never seen such action before, we had to tone it down so that we could get a UA certificate. No scenes were removed fully."

Mauli is a Marathi film starring Riteish Deshmukh and the second part after the very successful Lai Bhaari. The first part became a huge hit despite being very similar to several Hindi masala films. But it was made well and keep viewers engaged and that’s what mattered. Mauli too is in the same zone. There’s a big revelation in the first 30 minutes itself which is bound to take viewers by surprise. The first half is highly entertaining but in the second half, the film slips at several places. In the film, logic takes a backseat (and how!) and after a point, it becomes a bit too much. Several developments regarding the villain especially are never properly explained. Also, it comes at a time when such films have reached saturation point. So that also goes against the film to an extent. On the positive side, director Aditya Sarpotdar has done a superb job. Despite the obstacles, he managed to put together the film nicely. A film like Mauli needed an expert or else it would have failed big time. And kudos to Aditya for the feat! Troy-Arif’s background score adds to the impact and will surely linger in people’s mind for a long time. This is a VFX heavy film and it’s been done flawlessly. See it to believe it! Talking of performances, Riteish Deshmukh as expected rocks the show. Some of the sequences in the second half were very challenging but he nails it. Saiyami Kher is quite confident and plays her part well. Jitendra Joshi, who recently won hearts as Katekar in Sacred Games, is the villain in the film. He’s a bit over the top as per the requirement and looks convincing nevertheless. Siddharth Jadhav and Shrikant Yadav are decent. All in all, Mauli is a one-time timepass watch and if you are yearning for masala films, this should be on your priority list!

My rating - *** out of 5!

MARATHI AND HOLLYWOOD FILMS TO DOMINATE THIS WEEK!

The third last Friday of 2018 is here. Since two big Hindi films are going to release in the next two weeks, this week will have no Hindi release. Taking advantage of the void, a prominent Marathi and Hollywood flick would be out. Both the films look exciting as the buzz for both is strong. My views:

MAULI: This Marathi film is the part two of Lai Bhaari, produced by and starring Riteish Deshmukh. It also starred Radhika Apte and Sharad Kelkar and was directed by Nishikant Kamat. Released in 2014, it was a super-hit at the box office and was a rare Marathi film that was made in typical Bollywood masala potboiler style. The part two was announced immediately but it took more than four years for it to release. Riteish features in the story once again and opposite him is Saiyami Kher. And instead of Nishikant Kamat, Aditya Sarpotdar has donned the director’s hat. The trailer looks very interesting and massy. This time, the plot deals with water mafia. Riteish once again plays Mauli, which was a very interesting and fun character and it’ll be quite great to see him again in the same avatar. Mauli will have a limited release outside Maharashtra. But in the home state, it’s sure to have a huge opening and can create a riot in the interiors. It’s collections will be affected after the release of Zero next Friday but nevertheless, the week one earnings would be more than enough and later, it can go steady at low levels. The response of course has to be positive. Lai Bhaari was the first Marathi film to cross the Rs. 40 crore mark. Here’s hoping Mauli can at least go past the Rs. 50 crore mark!

AQUAMAN: It is a superhero film and the sixth film in the DC Extended Universe. This franchise has taken a bit of a hit due to the underperformance of Batman vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League. Wonder Woman however was positively received. And Aquaman too carries a positive buzz. The character is entertaining and actor Jason Momoa seems to be enjoying the part. Moreover, James Wan has been brought in board as the director. He has helmed several hit films in the past like Fast & Furious 7, The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, Saw and Insidious. The various trailers have upped the excitement. The response from critics and audiences in China (it released there on December 7) has been very favourable. Aquaman is scheduled to release in USA on December 21 and in most part of the world. But due to Zero, Warner Bros India decided to instead come on December 14. With such a strong buzz, Aquaman can have an opening of Rs. 6-7 crore. The Hindi version can also work since the film looks entertaining and massy, unlike other films of DC in the past.

Lastly, there’s Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, an animated film featuring various versions of the superhero in different shared multiverse. The idea is innovative and the trailer has been loved. The response from critics in India and west alike has been unanimously positive. But because of limited buzz, the opening won’t be huge. Also, it has very little chance in dubbed version and this can also affect its business in India.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

As she returns to big screen with Mauli song, Genelia discusses possible second innings in cinema; husband Riteish reveals duo is on lookout for “that perfect script”
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 10, 2018)

Two years after her cameo appearance in Force 2 (2016), Genelia Deshmukh has returned to the big screen — she features alongside husband Riteish Deshmukh in a special number, Dhuvin Taak, in his upcoming venture, Mauli. While fans of the duo have missed seeing them together, Riteish admits that he has been cajoling his better half to return to movies. “As a producer, I would love to see her on screen, maybe in a Marathi film. We will do a film together; we are looking for that perfect script,” says Riteish.

No stranger to regional fares, Genelia points out that a Marathi outing has been missing from her fiilmography so far. Impressed by the evolution of Marathi cinema in the past few years, she says that she is looking forward to dabble in them. “I have been part of regional cinema — both mainstream and off-beat. I find Marathi stories so good. When I read the scripts that make their way to our production house, I am bowled over. I have done a lot of work in the South film industry that people here wouldn’t necessarily produce,” she laughs, adding, “I would love to do commercially exciting movies like Mauli.”

The mother-of-two says that her children — Riaan and Rahyl — are the reason she hasn’t plunged headlong into films again. “It’s a full-time commitment once I come back to films. it can’t be a half-hearted effort. Riteish and I have to decide how we go about it. If I go out and shoot, then he will have to take the step of being the homemaker at that time as our children are too little to be left on their own.”

Ask her how Dhuvun Taak came her way and she credits Riteish and director Aditya Sarpotdar for the decision. “They were discussing possible names of actresses who could feature in the song. Next thing I know, Riteish told me that I am doing the song. My initial reaction was no, since I was out of town with our kids. He said, ‘Come for three days, shoot and go back’ and that’s exactly what I did. And I loved being in front of the camera again.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 9, 2018)

Four years ago, Riteish Deshmukh made his debut in Marathi cinema as a producer with Lai Bhaari. His maiden venture went on to do over Rs 40 crore business at the box office. Proud of his Marathi legacy, the actor returns to the same space with Mauli. He tells After Hrs why there has been a long gap between both the movies, how he strikes a balance between regional and Hindi cinema as well as his learnings as a producer. Excerpts…

Would you say that Lai Bhaari is instrumental in changing people’s perception towards Marathi cinema? 
Let’s not give Lai Bhaari that credit. It all started with films like Shwaas (2004) and Harishchandrachi Factory (2009), which won the National Award and were selected as India’s official entries to the Oscars. That’s when people started noticing the kind of content that was being generated in the Marathi industry. There are two parameters for films — content and commerce. But when the numbers started coming in, things changed. It began with Balak Palak (2013) which made Rs 12 crore. Then came Duniyadari that raked in Rs 25 crore. In 2015, Timepass 2 did around Rs 30 crore and after that, Lai Bhaari broke the Rs 40 crore mark as it had action and drama. So, Marathi industry was not only producing content but also making good numbers.

Natsamrat, which released in 2016, set the cash registers ringing with Rs 50 crore. Three months later, Sairat managed to cross the Rs 90 crore mark at the box office. Rs 90 crore in Marathi is almost like a Rs 300-400 crore film in Hindi. No Hindi movie, barring Baahubali, has done that much business in Maharashtra. Interestingly, all these flicks that have done these numbers opened in the same range of Rs 2-3 crore. So, now the aim is to increase the opening figures. But how do we do that? Do we increase shows? Because then, Hindi films will also take these shows up. So, it’s a double fight.

Regional and Hindi cinema fighting for screens has always been the case...
Yes, and it will continue to be so. There’s nothing bad with that. Everyone wants the best for their films. Now, it’s up to the audience to watch whatever they want to. But the only thing is that the other person should at least get a decent opportunity to showcase. Opportunity is an issue here.

You even moved your film, as a sign of love and respect for Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero...
Shah Rukh is doing the biggest movie of his career, in terms of production, and it’s an amazing film that he’s bringing to life. Mauli is the biggest film that my production house is making. The scales are completely different, and so are the budgets. I was releasing it on December 21 because it’s the holiday season. Initially, Total Dhamaal was supposed to open in cinemas on December 7. So, I wanted to keep a two-week gap between both my movies. With Total Dhamaal shifting to February 2019, I realised that if Mauli releases along with Zero, the business of both the movies would get affected. That’s when I decided that my Marathi movie should hit the marquee a week earlier. So, it has worked out well for Shah Rukh and me. And I’m glad we could do so for each other’s betterment.

What took you four years to come back with Mauli?
We were planning to release it sooner. We had developed it and announced it. However, later, we realised it’s not what it should be. After that, I got busy.

Does it become difficult to juggle between the two industries?
It is difficult but the responsibility I have for my Marathi films and productions is much more. I have to sit on everything — right from the font of the poster to whose name will be placed where. In the case of my Hindi films Housefull or Dhamaal franchise, I only have to do my photoshoots and promote the film. Life as a producer is challenging, engaging and extremely gratifying. It’s amazing to see how a script comes to fruition.

Is Mauli a takeaway from Lai Bhaari?
No, it’s not a part two. It’s a different story. But the essence and the premise remains the same.

People are increasingly remaking Marathi films in other languages… 
There’s a certain sense of recognition today. Cinema and entertainment will soon be language agnostic. I’m watching a Spanish series with subtitles on my TV and enjoying it as it’s exciting. Mumbai is a true cosmopolitan city in the country where statistically 35 per cent of the population is Marashtrian while the remaining constitutes people from different corners. When a film becomes the talk-of-the-town, everyone gets excited to go and watch it. The non-Marathi speaking audience has also started watching our films, which is a great boon to our industry.

Have you ever thought of dubbing Mauli in Hindi and releasing it across India?
No, because if I had thought that way, I would have made it in Hindi. One should not confuse the basic core reason behind creating a movie. And that’s your audience. A Hindi version will take away a lot from the way I wanted to make the Marathi movie. Dubbing is an option. Mauli and Lai Bhaari both can be remade as great Hindi films too. But as of now, let’s see what happens.

Lai Bhaari was a huge success. So, the expectations from this film are quite high. Are you feeling the pressure? 
No. Lai Bhaari, Sairat and other films were loved by the audience and that’s why they fared so well at the box office. If Mauli has to do the same business as Lai Bhaari, it has to be appreciated by viewers. Because of my debut Marathi film, I got the courage to make Mauli a bigger film in terms of budget, scale, action and songs. But if you think I’m looking at a business more than Lai Bhaari, then no, I can’t gauge that right now. Box office figures don’t matter, people’s reactions do. If people connect to the film, it will do good. Unfortunately, today we’re only discussing collections, which are immaterial. In recent times, smaller films have done Rs 100-crore business solely because of their strong connect.

Backing another regional fare, Riteish Deshmukh draws comparisons with South market that supports homegrown movies
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 4, 2018)

As his third production Mauli is on the threshold of release, Riteish Deshmukh says he is actively trying to promote the growth of Marathi cinema. The actor-producer doesn't mince words as he admits that regional fares suffer from the audience's innate bias towards Hindi cinema.

"Even in Maharashtra, Marathi film is the audience's second option. When a Marathi film is releasing alongside a Hindi counterpart, the latter will be the audience's first choice. The situation is different in the South where viewers give preference to regional films. Hindi films collect marginal amounts there."

It is easy to see that these factors came into play when Deshmukh decided to advance the release of the Saiyami Kher-starrer to December 14 - the actioner was to initially clash with Shah Rukh Khan's Zero on December 21.

"Shah Rukh is a dear friend. Zero is his production house's biggest film. Similarly, Mauli is the biggest film under my banner. When Total Dhamaal was postponed, I realised that we had a window to advance the release of Mauli; it would work in favour of both films as the screen count would no longer be divided and we would get a clear run of one week. We are happy to move our film."

His upcoming release is an actioner, a genre that hasn't been fully explored in Marathi cinema. He reasons, "2.0 was made on a budget of over Rs 500 crore, but no one would have imagined this kind of an investment, few years back. Similarly, a Marathi film is made on a particular budget, and this genre is an expensive affair. But, things are looking promising."

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 2, 2018)

Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, who have been married for six-and-a-half-years, are one of the most adorable couples in Bollywood. Time and again, there have been talks about the two doing a film together and the former had admittedly told us sometime ago, “I want Genelia to do a full-fledged Marathi movie with me.”

Now, the jodi will reunite on screen for a song in Riteish’s upcoming production, Mauli. Reveals a source, “Their chemistry has always been loved by the audience. So, when the Housefull 4 actor saw there was scope, he got Genelia to do a Holi song with him for Mauli. Titled Surf Laavun Dhuvun Tak, it’s an out-and-out fun track in sync with the spirit of the festival of colours.”

Interestingly, they were last seen together four years ago, in a similar festive track in his debut Marathi film, Lai Bhaari.

Confirming the development, Riteish adds, “I don’t want to miss any opportunity to work with Genelia. I have actually forced her to do the number. It felt so good to dance together after four years and that too on an Ajay-Atul composition. Hopefully, the audience enjoys it as much as we did.” The song launches today.

I love you @iamsrk https://t.co/Acuea9V5Lq

— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) November 5, 2018

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 28, 2018)

Two years after the release of her Bollywood debut opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya, Saiyami Kher will now be seen alongside Riteish Deshmukh in his Marathi film, Mauli. It’s rare for an actress to take a plunge into regional cinema so early on in career. However, Saiyami, who made her acting debut with the Telugu film Rey (2015), has no such inhibitions. In a quick chat with BT, she talks about life post her grand debut in Bollywood, how regional cinema is opening up opportunities for actors and most of all, how surviving in the movie business is no mean feat for a newcomer.

You made your debut with a Telugu film and Mirzya (2016) was your debut in Bollywood. Your next release is a Marathi film. One would have expected you to follow up with another Hindi project instead...
Riteish Deshmukh’s last Marathi film Lai Bhaari opened up a new dimension for action and drama in Marathi cinema, and this again is an ambitious project for him. Besides, I always wanted to be a part of Marathi films as my grandmother (Usha Kiran) was a renowned name in the Marathi industry. It’s a matter of pride to go back to my roots. The best part about regional cinema is that it is more receptive and welcoming towards actresses from outside, as compared to Bollywood.

It has been two years since Mirzya released. The second Hindi film you signed got pushed to November this year, and another film with Mani Ratnam, too, is delayed. At any point, were you frustrated at the pace at which your career was moving?
Nobody wants to put their money on someone whose film hasn’t worked. Those two years were really tough. It made me realise who my true friends were; failure is the best teacher. That’s when your family and genuine friends play an instrumental role in keeping you afloat. Also, my sports background helped me sail through the phase. Walking with my chin up despite failure has been ingrained since a young age. In our world, a loss makes you work harder. It’s difficult to survive and sustain in the film industry with several people vying for the same part. One has to be thick skinned to survive here. Depression is normal when you face rejections. It has been a huge struggle. I was suddenly surrounded by new friends and relatives when my film (Mirzya), which was touted as one of the biggest Bollywood debuts, was announced. There were filmmakers who were keen on casting me. Before Mirzya, at auditions, several people were concerned about my looks. They would say, ‘You have a wide smile and big teeth. You should get a nose and lip job done’. I said ‘thank you’ to them, as I am happy with the way God has made me. After I bagged my first Bollywood film, suddenly, the same set of people thought that I am good-looking (laughs!).

Are you in touch with your Mirzya co-star Harshvardhan Kapoor considering you guys have been good friends since your debut?
I am very much in touch with Harshvardhan. Your first co-star is always special. We don’t meet but are in touch over messages. He is concerned about me and checks with me on whether I have approached the people he has suggested. Harsh has been headstrong and clear about the cinema he wants to do. I am glad that he is not going down the conventional route, which is very brave of him. He is going through his share of struggles, too. He has a tough job of living up to his father’s name.

What are the kind of films that really interest you?
I would love to feature in a sport biopic. I feel I am fit for it as I am a sportsperson, too. Also, rarely do we see actresses getting cast in action films; I would love to do one.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; May 7, 2018)

Four days ago, Riteish Deshmukh flagged off his next Marathi production venture — Aditya Sarpotdar’s Mauli — which has the actor playing the lead. Now, we can confirm that the makers of the actioner have found their leading lady in Saiyami Kher.

Riteish confirms the news, “We were looking for a fresh face to cast in Mauli and found that in Saiyami. She is young, vivacious and fits the character of a firebrand Marathi mulgi to the T. We look forward to working with her.”

Saiyami tells us, “I’m delighted to work in a language that I am very proud of — my mother tongue Marathi — that, too, opposite Riteish in his home production. He successfully introduced a new genre of action and drama to Marathi cinema with Lai Bhaari.” This will be the young actress’ second project and her debut in Marathi films.

Saiyami is taking forward the legacy of her grandmother Usha Kiran, who was a huge name in Marathi cinema. In a career that spanned over five decades, the yesteryear actress was known for films like Daag, Patita, Chupke Chupke and has received several top honours.

“Mauli will always be very close to my heart as it takes me back to my Maharashtrian roots. I will really miss my grandmom on this journey because she would have been proud to see my Marathi debut. I’m really excited and seek everyone’s good wishes and blessings,” she says. Incidentally, Saiyami’s aunt, Tanve Azmi, had played Riteish’s mother in Lai Bhaari.

Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 11, 2018)

Riteish Deshmukh has a busy year ahead, with two Bollywood films lined up for release. He says, “I’m working on Total Dhamaal and Housefull 4. The previous installments of both these films have fared well and hence, expectations are already high. So, there is a lot of pressure.”

Having said that, Riteish also believes that any film with strong content, if released at the right time, will do well. It really doesn’t matter if they are part of a popular franchise. “The genre of the film could make a difference to its box-office prospects. Comedies like Total Dhamaal and Housefull 4 have a better chance to succeed, but at the end of the day, it’s about getting your content and release date right. If those parameters are in place, the film will work well,” he says.

That’s not all. Riteish Deshmukh, who made his debut in Marathi cinema with Lai Bhaari in 2014, is all set for his second outing in the language. Riteish will soon begin work on Mauli, which was first announced in 2015. The film, however, was later put on the back burner because of creative issues.

The actor, who is also an acclaimed producer in Marathi film industry, says, “Mauli is going on floors soon. Sometimes, what happens after a success like Lai Bhaari is that one tries too hard to figure out what one wants to do next. You have already set a benchmark and you don’t want to slip. But then, it doesn’t always work out the way you planned. Fortunately, in Mauli’s case, we got the film back on track.”

Mauli, an action drama directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and written by Kshitij Patwardhan, will be produced by Riteish’s production house, Mumbai Film Company.

Drishyam director Nishikant Kamat reveals the many aces that he has up his sleeves
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 9, 2015)

After Dombivali Fast and Force, Nishikant Kamat, who recently made an impression with the Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam now wants to switch genres. He's all set to direct a period love story.

"It'll be shot entirely in India. Ritesh Shah has written the script, we've been toying with the idea since six years," says Nishikant, adding that it will roll next year after the release of Rocky Handsome and Madaari. "I want an actor from the younger lot for the male lead. Someone like Varun Dhawan, Ranveer Singh or Sidharth Malhotra. We might opt for a fresh face for the heroine."

Upbeat about the success of Drishyam, the director admits to have been confident that the film would do well. Is Part 2 on the cards? "The sequel has to be better than the original and right now I don't have a story. But I share a great equation with Ajay and we will definitely collaborate again."

Last week, he wrapped up Rocky Handsome with 42 year-old actor, John Abraham. "He will be seen battling underworld dons and the drug mafia in the film. John is a good friend and I have discussed another action drama with him. We have a great story idea but I can sit down to script it only towards the end of next year."

Before that he will direct a Marathi film, Mauli, for Riteish Deshmukh. They had partnered in Lai Bhaari.

The action comedy rolls in August 2016.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 25, 2015)

Two years ago, after tying the knot with long-time steady girlfriend Genelia D'Souza, Riteish Deshmukh had announced that he'd had his fill of adult comedies and was going to turn into a family man even in reel life. But the 36-year-old actor is currently filming Great Grand Masti, the third instalment in the sex comedy franchise Masti. Bring this up and he admits to having changed his mind.

"Sex comedies don't excite me. But it's a great franchise and I am open to working with all kinds of genres. And this is one more lesson I've learnt - Never say never," he says with a wry smile. But sex is often upstaged by conversations revolving around diapers and milk bottles as Riteish is a daddy now. His son, Riaan, was born on November 25, 2014. "Vivek (Oberoi) and I both have infants at home so there's lots of baby talk on the sets. We rag Aftab (Shivdasani) about fatherhood now that he's a married man too," chuckles the actor.

After Great Grand Masti, Riteish begins another crazy comedy, Housefull 3, featuring Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan. "The film rolls mid-August," he says.

Before that he has another release coming up, the political satire Bangistan, about two aspiring terrorists, who are brainwashed into becoming human bombs and blowing themselves up at a world peace conference in Poland. Riteish, who has completed 12 years in the film industry, is excited to be working with newbie Pulkit Samrat. "When you are working with the same actors, you get complacent and there's no excitement left. Pulkit brought new energy to the sets and I hope he learnt something good from me too," says Riteish.

The high point of his career was when he won all those awards for his first negative role ever in Ek Villain. Buzz is, director Mohit Suri and he are collaborating on a biopic on Bhagwan Dada. Riteish dismisses this. "No, I'm not producing or acting in this biopic. If a film like this comes my way, I would immediately grab it," he asserts.

Riteish, who debuted in Marathi cinema with a double role in Lai Bhaari, directed by Nishikant Kamat, is producing another high-voltage, action thriller. "I will act in Mauli which again has Nishi at the helm," Riteish grins, adding his other as-yet-untitled production is an intense drama. "But I will not act in this film. It rolls in 2016."

He points out that cinema is changing and it's a good space for actors to be in. Blown over by the Raees promo, he admits that he always wanted to see close friend, Shah Rukh Khan, in a film like this. "And he is in a film that looks meaningful and promising. This is the kind of new content that's coming up everywhere," he exults.

His better half, Genelia D'Souza, who paired up with him in films like Tujhe Meri Kasam, Masti and Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, has not been seen on screen since they tied the knot in 2012. Riteish is eager that his wife makes a comeback and would love to star in a film with her again. "I'm a big Genelia fan. She is charming and lively and I hope she gets back to films soon. But someone will have to approach her with the right script, someone has to want to cast us together as a couple. I am not producing a film for her, at the moment," he asserts. Hmmm, Riteish has always been a politically correct guy who's rarely made headlines. Isn't that understandable given that he comes from a political family? "It's in my upbringing. I am always diplomatic," laughs the son of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra. "I'm a no controversy guy!"