Writer-director Anees Bazmee has put the lockdown to good use; has been editing his horror comedy too
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 29, 2020)

After the shoot of his horror comedy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, featuring Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu, was halted midway in Lucknow in March, Anees Bazmee took off with his family to his Lonavala farm house. It’s been six months since the filmmaker has isolated himself there. “Initially, no one thought that the Coronavirus lockdown would extend for so long. I took a break from work and spent some time with my family. But now, I have resumed work and after a long time, I have written a pure love story on the lines of Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. The screenplay, with the dialogue, is locked,” he reveals with much satisfaction.

Through the lockdown, Anees was also in touch with his Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 team. “We edited the chunk we have shot so far, in Jaipur and Lucknow,” he shares, adding that he is in no hurry to resume shooting for the Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani production. “It’s essential to follow social distancing till the vaccine arrives. Executing the SOPs on the set will be difficult and expensive. But those who want to shoot should follow them for everyone’s safety.”

Prod him on his shooting plans and he says, “We had to pack up in Lucknow because of Covid-19 and for continuity purposes, we can’t resume filming in Mumbai. Whenever we decide on a date, we will fly to Lucknow again and that’s a big call to take as we had a crew of 300-400 back then. We have to figure a way to cut down on the unit now and that’s going to be difficult. Over 50 per cent of our shoot remains.”

Buzz is, Tabu’s character will be multi-dimensional like Vidya Balan’s in the first film of the franchise. Anees doesn’t get into the details, “It’s a very important character and only an actress like Tabu could have done it as she has grasped the character graph perfectly. The trio of Kartik, Kiara and Tabu has brought a lot of freshness to the script.”

On Wednesday, No Entry, which is among Anees’ most loved films, completed 15 years. Every year, there’s talk of a sequel. The writer-director reveals that the script of No Entry Mein Entry is ready. “This time, Salman, Anil and Fardeen have double roles, every character has a wife and also a girlfriend. There are 10 actresses in the film and to get such an ensemble in place is a challenge, which is why the film is taking so long,” he shares, promising that it will take confusion to another level and assuring that the film will happen. “Every film has its own destiny and this being a cult film, we are all aware of the responsibility of spinning a sequel.”

Revisiting the time he first narrated the script to producer Boney Kapoor in the presence of late actress, Sridevi, Anees says, “Sridevi ji was a huge fan of No Entry, so is Janhvi (Kapoor). She wanted to hear the narration and even congratulated me at the end of it,” he beams.

The filmmaker is also committed to doing a film for Ekta Kapoor. Buzz is it’s with Vicky Kaushal after he was snapped with Anees outside Ekta’s office. “Ekta ji is a friend and yes, finally, we are teaming up. We have been working on a script, but I need to complete Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 first,” he sighs, adding he’s also hunting for the right script to take the 2011 family entertainer, Ready, forward. “Salman bhai is also really keen, whenever we meet, he says, ‘Yaar, Ready ka kuchh banana hai’. But none of us have been able to crack a script for the sequel yet.”

Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu’s 2011 actioner, Dookudu is gearing up for a Hindi remake. The Hindi version is currently being scripted and we hear the producers are keen to have Anees on board as the director. “Yes, I am in talks for Dookudu, but it’s too early to talk about that now,” he concludes.

Anees Bazmee reveals his script for the No Entry sequel and says he is ready and waiting to be green-lit; meanwhile, he is out to prove that John Abraham can make you laugh too
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 21, 2019)

Over the years, Anees Bazmee has made a name for himself with laugh riots like No Entry, Singh Is Kinng, Welcome and Ready to name a few and he plans to make many more films in the genre. Next up, is the multi-starrer comedy, Pagalpanti, fronted by John Abraham, Anil Kapoor and Ileana D’cruz with Arshad Warsi, Kriti Kharbanda, Pulkit Samrat, Saurabh Shukla as a part of the ensemble cast. “For me, it has always been about making clean comedies; there is no place for vulgarity and buffoonery in my work. If you have command over your writing, you don’t have to resort to shortcuts like double meaning dialogue to make people laugh; the humour should come out of the situation, even a serious one, like the cliff-hanger climax of Welcome with 25 people hanging on to dear life,” Anees explains.

He made his directorial debut with Ajay Devgn’s action-packed Hulchul in 1995. Months away from completing a silver jubilee run, Anees is still an enthusiastic debutant who says pre-release anxiety and insecurity keeps him going. “And I have come to realise that a filmmaker’s best work comes after the age of 50 because then he understands emotions better. The danger is that one tends to get dated with age, but I have kept myself abreast of world cinema and surrounded myself with youngsters,” he avers. But why stick to comedy despite succeeding with a romcom like Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha and a thriller like Deewangee? “It’s a coincidence. I had planned a couple of films, had they released people wouldn’t be under the misconception that I make only comedies,” he sighs.

The upside of that is that while other directors are showcasing John Abraham as an action hero, Anees taps the comic side of the man of steel even in his upcoming Pagalpanti. “John wanted to explore comedy for a while, the audience will be surprised to see him in a non-action avatar which will get the laughs,” he promises.

The good-winning-over-bad theme runs through all his films. Ask him if this is his formula for success and he muses, “I believe, the only thing the world needs today is love. Manipulation and over-thinking disturb the mind, it’s important to retain one’s innocence. My films urge people to be good human beings,” he asserts.

And while he is already planning to take Pagalpanti forward, Part 2 of No Entry is ready, waiting to be green-lit by producer Boney Kapoor. “I have a great equation with Salman (Khan, the film’s leading man) who is simple, honest and down-to-earth; ‘Dil Khan’ who will go all out if he likes you. I met him recently, God willing, we will work together again, very soon,” beams the 56-year-old director who has moved to his next, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, a sequel to the 2007 original, featuring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani. “No, Akshay Kumar doesn’t have a cameo; this is a different film with a different cast. I don’t think anyone can replace Akshay,” he signs off.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 15, 2019)

Anees Bazmee is ready with yet another multistarrer comedy film, Pagalpanti. The filmmaker spoke to BT about what makes the cast of this movie so special, his films that are yet to see the light of day and making Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 ,minus Akshay Kumar. Read on...

You are known to direct madcap, comic multi-starrers. What is special about the gang of actors in Pagalpanti?
The cast is really special because I have worked with Anil Kapoor in so many films. This would be my eleventh film with him. Also, I have earlier worked with John Abraham in Welcome Back (2015). In that film, he hardly had two comedy scenes. His expressions in those scenes were so impressive that back then, I had told him that one day I would like to direct him in a full-fledged comic role. When I approached him for this film, he said that he was really fond of comedy movies and was keen to do something like this.

The entire film has been shot in London, what are your fond memories from the shoot?
We were in London for a span of three months, and every single day of the shoot was memorable. Everybody got along really well. Sometimes, we would think that it is Arshad (Warsi) who is making everyone laugh. Then the next day, we would feel that it is Anil who is keeping everyone entertained. We all sat together and ate together for three months, as we were shooting for a long schedule at a stretch. In fact, after winding up, on the first day of the shoot, I was in my hotel room. I got a call on the landline. One of the team members invited me to the hotel’s restaurant saying that the entire team had gathered there for dinner and they wanted to speak with me. When I reached there, I was surprised to see the producers and all the actors, including Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Pulkit Samrat and Ileana D’Cruz, welcoming me. They told me, ‘Hum sabne milke decide kiya hai ke ki jald se jald humein Pagalpanti 2 ki shoot start karni hai.’ I was really surprised to know that the entire cast was asking me to begin the film’s sequel on the first day of the shoot itself. So, you can well imagine ki humne kya picture banayi hogi (laughs!). Seriously, the shoot felt like a paid vacation.

Tell us about the one complete ‘Pagalpanti’ incident that happened on the sets. One that you cannot get over.
There was a particular scene which I think was jinxed! It was a birthday party scene, which we wanted to shoot outdoors. The set needed to be decked up for the shoot as it was all about celebration. However, every time we were ready with the shot, baarish aa jaati thi! This happened nearly half a dozen times. Even if the day looked sunny and we managed to set up the shot, in the end, rains would play spoilsport. Also, out of frustration when we used to set the same scene indoors, baahar aasman khula ho jaata tha. It would a sunny day with clear skies.

You have worked with Anil Kapoor in nearly a dozen films. We believe you share a strong equation with him.
Anil Kapoor has known me since the time I would give claps in Raj Kapoor’s movies. The first time we met was on the sets of Prem Rog (1982). He is one actor who takes time to analyse a script. He hears it out, understands it, and then makes a decision. I have done films like No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back with him. Over the years, he has become extremely confident and comfortable working with me. He always tells me that aap toh kuch zabardast hi karwaoge mujhse.

You started your journey in Bollywood as a writer, with Swarg, in 1990. You have been a part of the industry for nearly three decades. People know you for your comic ventures. What are the other genres of films that you would like to direct?
I think comedy comes easily to me. Having said that, I am very comfortable with other genres, too. In fact, I made a few films belonging to different genres, but unfortunately, they haven’t released till date. My comedy films released one after the other, and people got the impression that I am comfortable only with comedy movies. I did a suspense thriller-action film with Ajay Devgn called Naam, which also starred Bhumika Chawla and Sameera Reddy. For Boney Kapoor, I made It’s My Life. It was a love story starring Harman Baweja, Genelia D’Souza and Nana Patekar. These were beautiful movies. I wish they had released.

Now, you are busy with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Do you miss having Akshay Kumar in the film?
Akshay is a huge star and a great actor. I have a great rapport with him as I have made three films with him. People are saying that he has been replaced. I don’t feel ki Akshay Kumar ka koi replacement hai. It is a fresh story with a fresh cast — Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani. It is not a psychological thriller (like the original), but a ghost story. We have retained two songs from the earlier film, which includes Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Ami Je Tomar. I just wish that we get Akshay to do a cameo in the film, though we haven’t yet approached him.

Since a long time, the sequel to No Entry is being discussed. Any development there?
The story, the screenplay and the dialogues are ready; I am just waiting for Boney Kapoor (producer) to say, ‘Let’s start!'

Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 14, 2019)

For a long time now, there has been lot of speculation about a sequel to the 2005 superhit No Entry. Although, makers are yet to make any kind of official announcement, director Anees Bazmee, on his part, is ready with the script. “Yes, I have written it [script], and it has turned out to be beautiful. In fact, I feel it’s surely one of the best scripts ever written by me. People have been watching and enjoying No Entry for close to 15 years now,” he says.

That’s why Bazmee feels that “whenever a sequel [of No Entry] happens, it will be highly anticipated”. He adds: “Even today, whenever it plays on a TV channel, I get calls from people about how much they enjoy it. But greenlighting it is the producer’s prerogative. Whenever I get a green signal, I will start work on it immediately.”

For the time being, Bazmee is busy with his next, Pagalpanti starring John Abraham. “Welcome Back (2015) was a brilliant film but John didn’t have as much comedy to do in that film. But in my new film, he is fantastic. There is also Anil Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla and Arshad Warsi in the film. So, shining out amidst such solid actors is a very big deal,” he says, adding that he has seen “tremendous growth” in John as an actor.

“I have noticed a lot of difference in him since Welcome Back. In a short span of time, he has improved a lot. After watching Batla House, I was shocked. And even when I watch rushes of Pagalpanti, I feel he has done very good work,” says the director, who is also busy with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.

Ask Bazmee if he would want Akshay Kumar [he starred in the first part] to play a part in the sequel and he says: “If something works out, we would definitely want that. It would be great for our film if Akshay comes on board.”

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 31, 2019)

When Anees Bazmee approached Boney Kapoor with a story of three men and their sexual peccadilloes, which he had written and wanted to direct, the producer was game and they quickly decided that Anil Kapoor was apt for Kishan, the newspaper editor with a suspicious wife. “I had written films like Laadla and Deeewana Mastana featuring Anil, and knew he had great comic timing,” Anees reasons, saying they then approached Saif Ali Khan for the role of Shekhar, Kishan’s employee whom he treats like a younger brother. “Saif wanted to play Kishan but since Boney ji and I were convinced Anil was the best choice, we took Shekhar’s role to Fardeen.”

Salman Khan was Prem, though the director is quick to point out that his Prem unlike Sooraj Barjatya’s shareef, seedha family man, was a charming womaniser whose extra-marital affairs sparks off this comedy of errors and terrors. “Salman bhai had allotted only a day for the climax, but when I told him I needed three, he immediately agreed to stay back in Phuket,” Aneees reminisces. The climax was one of the film’s USPs, with the trio going over the edge of a cliff and hanging on to a tree for dear life, as a snake slithers by. “After we shot there, it became a popular tourist attraction and came to be known as the ‘No Entry Spot’ till the Tsunami washed it away.”

Anees surprises you with the revelation that after wrapping up the film, he had to wait for more than a year to release it. He had started writing his script with the title No Entry because, he reasoned, for a married man to court a woman other than his wife is like entering a ‘no entry’ zone. However, to his surprise, most members of his frat disliked it intensely and he was surprised by the almost violent reactions.

“People would snap, ‘Bakwaas hai’, and for a while I flirted with other, titles like Pati Patni Aur Woh, but eventually decided to stick to No Entry,” narrates the writer-director, who was later rewarded when it heard the audience raving, “Bahut achcha title hai”, encouraging him to experiment with Welcome, Ready and Singh Is Kinng.

But before that Anees almost despaired of his film seeing the light of the day. In fact, two days before the its release on August 26, 2005, he was suddenly told that it had been pushed again. “We finally opened without any advance booking and when I heard that there were very few people outside Chandan theeatre in Juhu, I resigned myself to the fact that two years of hard work had gone down the drain and went to sleep. I was woken up by the same well-wishers calling me a few hours later to say that the film was playing to a full house. In fact, business was better in the second week, with blackmarketeers doing brisk business. Even 14 years later, No Entry hasn’t gone into vanwas,” he exults.

Interestingly, despite its risqué subject and an escort, Bobby, at the centre of the plot, the film is seen as a family entertainer. Anees however reveals, tongue-in-cheek, that he knows of many husbands who have managed to distract their better halves from seeing the entire film, afraid that “unki sab pol khul jayegi”.

Prod him on Bipasha Basu’s Bobby who drives the men crazy when she enters the “Ishq Di Galli” and Anees informs that when the actress heard that this song was to be filmed on her, she begged him for 15-20 days to shed the weight she had put on during a holiday in the US. She turned up a fortnight later, looking gorgeous and her sexy moves still makes pulses race.

“Boney ji had wanted to shoot the song on a lavishly-mounted set in Mumbai, had allotted a Rs 3 crore budget only for it. Anu Malik (composer), Sameer (lyricist) and I had cracked while on our way to Lonavala. It was so catchy I immediately knew we had a chartbuster,” reminisces Anees. They eventually shot it in a real club in Bangkok, located opposite their hotel. Raju Sundaram who choreographed mostly for films down South, was cajoled into directing it and Anu’s opening beat became No Entry’s signature tune, used in the background at significant points in the narrative.

In the years since, talk of a sequel has come up several times. Anees admits that two years ago, he locked a story which can take the franchise forward. “We juggled five stories before settling on this one which took six months to finish. Now, I am waiting for Salman bhai and Boney ji to greenlight the project. Bahut khusboorat picture banegi,” he promises.

Arjun Kapoor on shedding baggage of being from a film family, why his Dibakar Banerjee film is delayed and reuniting with father Boney Kapoor
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8, 2019)

Arjun Kapoor insists that we sit on chairs instead of the sofa so that he doesn’t slouch during the interview. And even though he is juggling the shoot of Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat with promotions for Raj Kumar Gupta’s India’s Most Wanted, he is visibly relaxed and ready to tackle questions. Excerpts:

From being a commercial film actor to playing an Intelligence Bureau officer in a Raj Kumar Gupta film… It has been quite an arc for you.
I believe I have always had the knack of juggling all kinds of films. Maybe I am known as a commercial entertainer partly because I am from a film family that has made big films for years. It’s a pre-conceived notion that is difficult to shake off, so I embrace it. That said, I think India’s Most Wanted is today’s commercial film.

Some of your films haven’t fared well…
You live and learn. You see potential in something and go for it. Sometimes it goes beyond expectations and sometimes it falls short. But you can’t throw up your hands and refuse to fulfil a commitment. You ride on your instinct, give it your all and leave it to the audience. No actor is above a Friday. Everyone must auto-correct and analyse because the audience evolves faster than you.

The cinema one grows up watching might restrict their thought process and stepping out of it to understand the new kind of cinema may take time.

Did you also go through this transition?
I signed Mubarakan and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar around the same time. I wanted to go from Anees Bazmee to a Dibakar Banerjee. But today, when I am offered a film, I know that I don’t have to fret over whether the audience will get it. They are more cinema-educated. When they are watching a Badla or a Uri, it’s not for naach-gaana or the cast. It’s because they are genuinely interested in the story.

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar has been stuck for a long time. Producer Aditya Chopra is reportedly not too happy with the final edit.
You’ll have to ask Adi (about it), but he is impossible to reach (laughs). It is a unique multiplex film and we need a window of opportunity to release it. Namaste England was ready in the time Dibakar sir was cutting the film. So, we pushed it for later as we needed a gap between the two films. Then, Luka Chuppi and Sonchiriya happened to be opening on the same date that we had decided for Sandeep Aur Pinky... Why would you want to get into a three-way tussle? The film is ready and it’s just a matter of releasing it at the right time.

But too many delays also run the risk of losing the buzz among movie-goers…
Dibakar sir is a master craftsman. And if a director like him has taken time to edit a film, there must be a reason behind it.

What was it like prepping for India’s Most Wanted?
I am playing an Intelligence Bureau officer in the film and because of Raj sir, I got the opportunity to meet certain people who work within the community and listen to their stories. During the readings and research, I realised that in their head, these people are just doing their job. You have to be the most selfless person in the world to be in that head-space.

You and your sister Anshula are the most prolific sharers of childhood pictures on the social media. Just how big is your family album?
(Smiles) That’s the way we relive memories of our mother (Mona Kapoor). She used to save pictures from all our birthday parties and other important moments. By the time she passed away, she had a drawer full of albums dating back to the 1970s. Anshula is a replica of her and takes care of these things now. We live in the same house and take each other for granted, not saying in person how much we love each other, but we use the social media for it.

How has your equation with Janhvi and Khushi evolved?
I am still discovering them, and I don’t like to speak too much about it as mujhe lagta hai ke nazar na lage. We were brought together by the worst of circumstances but we’re trying to make the best of it. There is a long way to go before I can truly say that I know them inside out. We have a WhatsApp group that keeps us connected all the time.

Buzz is, you are doing a film with your father, Boney Kapoor. Is it No Entry Mein Entry?
Dad is about to start Ajay (Devgn) sir’s film and has just completed another one with Ajith sir down South. He is focused on that for now. I am hoping we will have something by the year-end to start in 2020.

It must have been difficult as a leading man to shave your head for Panipat.
Ashutosh (Gowariker, director) sir gave me enough time to think about it. And I felt excited about the look. Sometimes, you need to come out of your comfort zone to discover new things that work.

You’ve recently rallied behind leading ladies getting equal footing in film credits alongside male colleagues.
Women have always been hardworking, important and relevant to our films, so why not give them the respect they deserve? It only adds value to my name if Panipat is known as Kriti’s (Sanon, co-star) film.

And it’s about time that leading men spoke up for pay parity.
Pay parity should be all about proving yourself at the box-office and not about gender. If you are bringing footfalls to the theatre, you should be paid a certain amount of money.

While you and Malaika Arora are yet to comment on your relationship status, reports of a wedding have only intensified this year.
Usually men lose hair after getting married and not before (laughs). To put things in perspective, as an actor, why would I want to get married when I am sporting a bald look? There would be pictures of it everywhere! On a serious note, I am not getting married. I have not hidden anything from anyone and I think my personal life deserves respect and dignity for that.

But you are happy to be in love?
I am happy and that is all that matters. I don’t want to add more adjectives to it. My personal and professional lives help me sleep well at night and I would like it to remain like that.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; February 4, 2019)

An ensemble cast of big stars, lavish budgets and masala laced with comedy — Anees Bazmee’s movies tick all the boxes. The writer-director of films like No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007), Singh Is Kinng (2008) and Welcome Back (2015) has had a smashing success with multi-starrers. Yes, there have been a few like No Problem and Thank You, which have come a cropper, but his success ratio outweighs the failures.

After his last directorial Mubarakan (2017), the filmmaker is set to helm his next, Pagalpanti, toplined by John Abraham, Anil Kapoor and Ileana D’Cruz along with Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda and Arshad Warsi. Here, the director tells us about his upcoming film, his penchant for multi-starrers and why he is serious about comedy.

What is Pagalpanti about?
Pagalpanti is full of madness. It’s a hard-core commercial film with songs, dialogue, and zabardast family comedy. There will be no vulgarity because that has never been a part of my films. It will be shot in London non-stop for 50 days minimum. It is about John’s journey and the other people involved in it. He will be seen in a different role as he is doing an out-and-out comedy. There’s Anil with whom I share good tuning. We have worked together in so many films — No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007), Welcome Back (2015), to name a few. I have also scripted his Deewana Mastana (1997), Laadla (1994), etc. This must be our 11th or 12th collaboration. Honestly, we have stopped counting!

Is the film releasing this year?
I think so, because by April-May, InshaAllah, we will be able to finish the film, after which the producers will decide on the release date. They did want to announce it in advance, but as a maker, it puts the burden on you because you have to finish it by then. That’s when the chalega attitude creeps in especially, if the work is not done according to your satisfaction. I didn’t want that. I told them to not worry about the date. In the earlier days, when we made films, we used to see it and if there was something which we felt was not up to the mark, we would re-shoot it. Though I have never done that, one should have the liberty of improving it and if that takes a couple of months one should get that breathing space.

Most of your films are multi-starrers, is that deliberate?
It’s not that I want to make only multi-starrers. Every time I finish a film, I feel I should make a movie with one hero and heroine. Having said that, multi-starrers are not easy to make, which is why you don’t see everybody making them. You can say that multi cast films are my forte. I have a good tuning with all my actors, aur main aram se multi-starrer bana leta hoon. Uska maza kuch aur hai. Moreover, the seven-eight actors that I have in my film have important roles, whether it was Welcome, Welcome Back, No Entry or now Pagalpanti. It’s not that I set out to make them, it just happens. The story of Pagalpanti is such that it needs many actors, that’s all. 

People have come to expect a certain kind of comedy from you. Does that put pressure on you?
Whenever your films do well, and you have made a name for yourself, people have expectations from you. That does put pressure on you, but it’s good because it means logon ko aapse ummeed hai. I don’t feel the pressure because if you have seen my work, I make one film in a period of two years. When I am working on it, my entire concentration is on it, there are no distractions. I use my experience of over 50 films  — have written several movies and directed about 10-12 — and the knowledge that I have.

Many of your films have done well at the box-office but they haven’t won critical acclaim. What do you have to say about it?
Honestly, main chahta hoon that critics also love my films, but I can’t make films only for those 20-25 people. It’s sad that critics kind of look down upon comedy, which is such a difficult genre. But these movies are big hits. When I meet people they tell me they haven’t seen a better comedy than No Entry, which released over a decade ago, and that they watch it even today. So, I feel films like these will become cult movies in the future. I am sure even the critics enjoy it when they watch it! Still, I hope I make a film that is liked by the audiences and the critics.

What kind of comedy do you like?
I like situational comedies. I always tell my actors that they should not act in a funny way or do comedy, that will happen on its own. If you have seen my films, I don’t go over the board, where people are climbing and falling to create laughter, there is no slapstick comedy. I don’t believe in that. The situation is comical. For instance in the climax of No Entry, three people are hanging from a cliff and are about to die, in the Welcome climax, the entire house with all the characters in it is on the verge of falling off — these are serious things, there is no buffoonery — but the situation leads to comedy.

There are reports about you directing a college love story with Kartik Aaryan?
Chal raha hai. I want to make films in different genres, not just comedy. I have in the past made a romantic film like Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998) and a suspense thriller like Deewangee (2002). I am comfortable writing all the genres, but I don’t need to prove anything to anybody. I do a film which I enjoy at that point.

David Dhawan has been remaking his old films like Judwaa and now Coolie No 1. Have you thought about revisiting any of your earlier movies?
I have some 15 original stories in mind and I still feel like a newcomer. There is a lot of excitement now with Pagalpanti. I am not just a director, but also a writer. If start remaking my old movies, what do I do with the new ideas that I have?

What is happening to the sequel of No Entry and Aankhen?
You will have to check with Boney Kapoor (producer) about the No Entry sequel. But Aankhen part 2 is happening. It has a big star cast, and I will start the film this year once I am done with Pagalpanti.

Bazmee on wanting to tap into Abraham’s comic timing as they reunite for Pagalpanti
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; November 24, 2018)

His 2017 comedy Mubarakan behind him, Anees Bazmee has now trained his sights on Pagalpanti featuring John Abraham.

Talking to mid-day, Bazmee reveals that a reunion on a comedy was pending since they first got together for Welcome Back (2015). “John didn’t have too many comic scenes in that film. Yet, in the ones he did, I noticed that he shines in comedy. It was while working together on Welcome Back that he expressed his wish to do a full-fledged comedy with me,” says Bazmee, who will soon head to London for the film’s recce.

With rumours doing the rounds about Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar walking into and out of his upcoming films — the second instalments of No Entry (2005) and Singh Is Kinng (2008), respectively — we seek the filmmaker’s intervention on clearing the air. “No Entry was a good film. I came up with a good idea for part two, and have finished writing the script. I’m now seeking a go-ahead from Boney ji [Kapoor, producer]. As soon as he tells me about the cast, we can roll with it. As for Singh Is Kinng, there’s enough scope to make another edition of the film, but there’s no further development there.”

What he is, however, excited about is the next instalment of Aankhen 2 which sees Amitabh Bachchan reprise his role from the 2002 outing. “As far as his character is concerned, the film takes off from where he left it.”