Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar are gearing up for the release of their upcoming horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, marking their reunion after 14 years. As part of the promotional campaign ahead of the film’s April 10 release, the duo recently spoke to Bollywood Hungama about discipline on film sets and their long working association.
During the conversation, Priyadarshan recalled an anecdote from an earlier interview in which he described getting Salman Khan and Govinda to report to the set at 7 AM as a bigger achievement than receiving the Padma Shri.
Akshay Kumar praises Priyadarshan’s discipline on set
Speaking about the director’s working style, Akshay Kumar highlighted how punctuality has always been central to their collaborations.
He said, “This man is full of discipline. Full of discipline. And that is why where we both get along very well. Our 7 o'clock shift starts at 7 o'clock. 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, pack-up happens. And life passes comfortably. No tension. He just needs a good producer who brings everything at the right time, and he needs an actor who comes at the right time.”
Sharing advice for newcomers entering the industry, the actor added, “Any newcomer who will be watching this, I would just want to tell you all when you come into the industry, you can't become Marlon Brando right away. You have to walk step by step. Just keep yourself in two things. Self-discipline. Be completely disciplined. Come and go at the right time. And be a producer's man. Whenever a producer is falling, support him. Lift him up. And stay with him. That's all.”
Priyadarshan recalls his remark about Salman Khan and Govinda
When asked whether early start schedules like 7 AM shifts happened only when Akshay Kumar was part of the film, Priyadarshan responded by recalling a moment from an earlier interview conducted after he received the Padma Shri.
He said, “When I got my Padma Shri, there was an interview. They asked me, ‘This is the biggest achievement you never got and why, how do you feel about it?’ I said, ‘This is not the biggest achievement. Getting Salman Khan and Govinda at 7 o'clock in the morning and finishing the film on time is a very big achievement.’”
He added that discipline and responsibility towards producers have guided his filmmaking approach over the years.
“I have served 42 years with 98 films. But why I did it, I believe only for one reason. Every producer with whom I have worked has repeated to me, except one. The reason is simple. I always think that even if the producer does not make money, he should not lose money. This is always in my mind while I do a film,” he said.
For the unversed, Priyadarshan directed Salman in Kyon Ki... (2005) and Govinda in the comedy Bhagam Bhag (2006).
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