Post Mithya, Ranvir Shorey to play the lead in another film titled 'I Think I Am 24' directed by Saurabh Shukla and costarring Neha Dhupia and Rajat Kapoor 
By Joginder Tuteja, May 21, 2007 - 07:54 IST
Post the success of 'Bheja Fry', Rajat Kapoor and Ranvir Shorey would soon be seen together in a film. Tentatively titled 'I Think I Am 24', the film is directed by Saurabh Shukla
who would be looking at getting third time lucky after his initial stint at direction, 'Mudda' and 'Chehra', failed to make any box office impact.
"We have almost wrapped up the film and by the end of the month we should have the principal shooting being through", confirms Ranvir Shorey who has an important role to play in the
film.
"Rajat Kapoor plays the main lead of a man who is middle aged but still feels that he is 24", chuckles Ranvir who is seeing his career graph only zooming up in last couple of years.
On being told that 'I Think I Am 24' sounds like a funny title indeed, he laughs, "In fact everyone associated with the film thinks so though I am a little apprehensive about it. I have
been wondering if we could think of something other than this."
But why is that so? After all the title clearly conveys an idea that a) it is a youthful film, b) it is set in urban India, c) it is going to be one quirky affair, 4) it is made for multiplex audience and
5) errrr...it would have bits of sex elements in place.
"Completely agree on the first 3 counts though it is the very fourth point you mentioned, i.e. the film being mainly for multiplex audience, which makes me apprehensive", he reasons. "The
film is not just for an urban audience and brings with it a depth that could be identified at all kind of places. Also, the film doesn't have sex in it though it definitely deals with a man who has
high libido in place", laughs Ranvir.
"Nevertheless, what we can only do is primarily sit and talk about the title and look at it's pros and cons. Whereas ultimately it is going to be the film's producer [Planman] and Saurabh who
would ultimately lock themselves in the room and close on the title, so why worry about it."
Coming to 'I Think I Am 24', does it belong to Rajat Kapoor genre of film making, if one can call it that way, especially after 'Mixed Doubles' and 'Bheja Fry'. "I would say it
is more of Saurabh Shukla genre of film making than Rajat's. You have to see the quirky treatment that Saurabh has given to the film", says Ranvir.
Does Saurabh also have a part to play in the film? "Yes, he is present in the film along with rest of the cast that ranges from Neha Dhupia to Vijay Raaz to Lillette Dubey to Delnaaz Paul", he
says excitedly.
He must also be excited about the recent super success of 'Bheja Fry'. The film is currently in the process of breaking records as far as box office response to small films is concerned.
"The key word is 'small' here", he says, "We never hid the fact that it is a small film. And this is where I believe the strength of the film lied. In spite of arriving with minimal publicity, it went on
to bumper business which proves yet again that audience of today is not sleeping."
He must also be happy for the success that friend and colleague Vinay Pathak has seen with 'Bheja Fry'. After all he plays the lead in the film. "Of course yes", he says quickly, "Just
look at the impeccable performance he has given. It was long due for him to get into limelight and I am so glad that he has received the kind of appreciation and acclaim that he truly
deserves. And why just Vinay? I am happy for everyone associated with the film which includes Rajat, Sagar, Milind, Sarika, Bhairavi and myself included. We all had a strong conviction that
the film would work and the wholehearted response to the film has assured us of our belief in 'Bheja Fry'."
Does he have the same belief for his upcoming films like 'Mithya', 'Buddha Mar Gaya', 'Anjaane', 'Aaja Nachley' and 'I Think I Am 24'? He smiles, "In fact at this moment I am not
sure about which of these films would release first. While I have wrapped up shoot for most of them and 'Aaja Nachley' is the only confirmed release to be arriving in November, I am waiting
for one of the other four films to be coming one after another."
Isn't 'Mithya' ready for release? "It is, but currently we are taking it to festival circuits and only looking at an August/September release. It is a film that has good dose of both comic and
serious elements and deserves a dekko internationally as well before we bring it to the Indian markets", he clarifies.
This seems quite a lull for a man who saw some back to back acclaim just recently with Khosla Ka Ghosla', 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects', 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd' and now 'Bheja
Fry' coming in quick succession. He jokes, "What you would be seeing for some time is a low key Ranvir during next few months. I am taking a conscious break while wrapping up the
shoot of my under production films and it will be only after June when I would be looking at signing my fresh lot of films."
And in case a good offer from television comes in the meanwhile? "Then I am game for it", he says honestly, "I have never left television and even today I am shooting a weekly program for a
sports channel along with Vinay Pathak. If something exciting comes in then I would surely be a part of it, whether it is big screen or small screen."
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