“Why single out Aamir?” – Riteish Deshmukh on ‘Double Dhamaal’ mimicry

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

June 24, 2011 - 3:25 AM IST

There are quite a few expectations from Double Dhamaal due to it being a franchise and the promos justifying the film's title. While it is certainly expected that all four jokers in the film (read: Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Javed Jaffri, Ashish Chaudhary) would have coordinated well to make the setting look seamless, audience is also looking forward to the film giving 'double the entertainment'. On the eve of the film's release, Joginder Tuteja catches up one of the jokers, Riteish, who is shuttling between London (for Housefull 2 shoot) and Canada (to host the IIFA awards).

“Why single out Aamir?” – Riteish Deshmukh on ‘Double Dhamaal’ mimicry

Promos of Double Dhamaal have indeed created 'dhamaal'. Can we say that this should be one film where the two minute promo promises good humour for the entire two hour long film as well, right?
Well, no one can say what happens in those two hours (laughs). Main kuch bhi bolun ki meri picture top hai, goli hai, usse kuch nahi hota. The point is that you should like what you see. And if the promos have managed to entice you enough then wow, that's great. If that has interested you to go and watch it in theatres then nothing better.

We just want that momentum to reflect in box office collections as well

Since you have been associated with the film all along, don't you foresee the film arriving with a bang?
Of course I do foresee that but I can't and I shouldn't be shouting from the rooftops about it, right? I don't think any of us actors believe in making arrogant statements that mujhe toh pata hai ki movie kaisi chalegi. We are just glad that our promos have worked and gained a fabulous response. Now we just want that momentum to reflect in box office collections as well.

You seem to be underselling the film....
It's not about underselling; it is about not selling your biasness towards the film. Of course I had a belief in the movie and so did other actors as well because of which all of us came together. In fact someone told me that this is the first ever sequel in India to see each of the five actors from the first part to come together again. This has never happened before. This shows the kind of script Induji (Indra Kumar) brought to us. The way we were curious to know what happened next to these five characters, I am sure audience too has been equally excited.

Of course audience is excited. Meanwhile the film has also been noticed for the fact that everyone out there is imitating some or the other actors. How did that happen?
The writers of Double Dhamaal had decided the imitations. They wanted to create a certain mood and feel of the narrative and conceived that how should all of us behave in a particular way. Four of us sat down and brainstormed on who would do what and which actor will mouth which line so that we have a fair distribution and we play on our strengths. So basically Arshad, Javed, Ashish and I pretty much figured it out amongst us to imitate different actors.

Why single out Aamir, there are number of other mimicry scenes as well

I can already see you taking a dig on Aamir Khan with references to his Dhobi Ghat, Peepli [Live] and Delhi Belly.
Why single out Aamir, there are number of other mimicry scenes as well. I have brought back Sanjeev Kumar in a big way. Then there are Mr. Bachchan, Jeevan saab and even Sudhir - they are all legends and quite a few mimicry featuring them all has been sprinkled all over. We have also tried to bring some humour by talking in Gujarati accent. I have gone to the extent of playing an Afro- Jamaican guy who speaks in Hindi. And guess what, I have also imitated Sanjay Dutt (laughs) even when he is a part of the film. But then none of it is a dig, its sheer tribute (smiles).