The legendary director Priyadarshan took out time to speak exclusively with Bollywood Hungama about his classic comic caper Hungama (2003), which completed 20 years on August 1, and a lot more.
How did you decide to make Hungama?
Hungama actually was the remake of my first film as a director, Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984). After nearly 20 years, I made it again and of course, readapted the story as per the changing times. I have always loved situational humour. I don’t like dialogue humour films. I continue to rely on situational humour even today. Even in (my latest film) Appatha, my ace is slapstick humour. Emotions come only at the end.
You started this kind of humour in Indian cinema…
(Smiles) Yes. But I was inspired by Hrishi da (Hrishikesh Mukherjee). He made some films in this zone. Also, I used to love the films of Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. I always used to wonder why people in India are not adapting slapstick humour in their films.
Ratan Jain said in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama that you were supposed to direct a film, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Since it couldn’t materialize, you instead made Hungama. Could you tell us why the SRK-Aishwarya film could not be made?
The script did not turn out to be as challenging in the end as intended. It was while working on this film that I met Shah Rukh Khan. He was very positive that we would work together. And we did work with Billu (2009).
So since that film got shelved, I suggested that we should do a comedy film. Hera Pheri (2000) did well at that time. Moreover, we did not want any huge stars. If you see, Hungama as well as Malamaal Weekly (2006) both did not boast of big stars. Yet, it worked.
Were Akshaye Khanna, Aftab Shivdasani and Rimi Sen the original choices?
Yes. Also, the roles were not meaty enough for big stars. So, we did the casting accordingly. After Hungama, my relationship with Akshaye became very good. Fortunately, both the Akshay’s – Akshaye Khanna and Akshay Kumar – have been lucky for me!
Aftab Shivdasani and Ratan Jain both exclusively told us that they were confused about the plot and it was only when they saw the film that they realized what it was all about. Was it challenging for you to direct actors especially since you were probably the only one who had a full idea about the film’s plot?
I have gone through this many times. During the shoot of Hungama, Akshaye Khanna told me, ‘I don’t know what I am doing but I am trusting you’. I remember Riteish Deshmukh saw Malamaal Weekly for the first time and said, ‘Oh, so this is what I did in the film. Now, I realize’! It’s very difficult to narrate a comedy film because it’s all situational. It’s not a story.
Did you visit cinema halls to check the audience’s reaction?
Yes, I did. Even today, I watch my own films in theatres. That’s how I can know what people like and why people like. Also, if a film becomes successful, I make it a point to watch it in cinemas, come what may. I want to understand what it is about the film that is attracting people.
In a scene where Nandu’s (Aftab Shivdasani) missing ad is shown, we come to know that his surname is Apte and he was the son of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, the iconic character played by Paresh Rawal in Hera Pheri (2000). Did you guys attempt a crossover more than a decade before it became mainstream with Singham-Simmba-Sooryavanshi and Tiger-Pathaan…
(Laughs) No. Some days, we just like to put some fun elements in the film. That’s all!
You made Hungama 2 (2021), which was released two years ago. A lot of people felt that it wasn’t as funny as the first part…
This always happens. Whenever you make a sequel, people always make comparisons. That happened with Hera Pheri and Phir Hera Pheri as well. That’s why I don’t like to attempt sequels.
Do you have any plans to make Hungama 3?
No, I am not thinking about it.
Also Read: When Priyadarshan hijacked Salman Khan & Kareena Kapoor Khan from Sanjay Leela Bhansali
More Pages: Hungama Box Office Collection , Hungama Movie Review
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