David Dhawan talks at length with Lipika Varma
You’re best at making comedies. Everyone, in their daily life, enacts something which caters to comedy. I am not trying to change the flavour. But once you see the film you will know it’s a David Dhawan film. While making a comedy, concept is very important. Nothing changes in the comic sense but comedy enacted differently brings in a change to the story. For example, ‘Vicky Donor’ is also a comedy, but the treatment and genre have changed, so it looks new.
What are the changes you see in the industry now?
I have been directing films for almost 25 years now. Earlier actors would just lend their ears to the narration of a scene and then accept a film. Nothing was done much on papers. We worked on the basis of friendship. Nowadays, they demand a hardbound copy of the script. Earlier, we would just tell them that we are planning a film with them and they would be on board. There was a lot of emotional bonding. Now everything is prepared much in advance. Times have definitely changed. Single producers have diminished. It’s the corporate world now.
Do you have Friday jitters?
Of course! I call them the prenatal jitters. That will never go away. It happens with every film. But it has to be taken well. We belong to an industry where we can do new things every day and not get into the rut of an office job.
Are failures a learning experience?
You learn from failures. I try to lie low when I fail. I have learnt my lessons and have burnt my fingers too. I made 41 films and have seen so many Fridays. You don’t know what the audience will like. When a star is at a certain height, like Salman Khan and Rajnikant are today, it’s a great pleasure to make a film with them. Their presence alone pulls the crowd in. I share a great rapport with Salman. Why will I not like to make a film with him?”
When’s your next film with son Varun?
I am doing a film for Ekta Kapoor with my son Varun next. It’s a South remake of ‘Kandireega’ and is a mix of comedy, drama and action. We have not decided on the heroine as yet. We are both excited. He finds my kind of cinema very different and difficult. You know great actors do that easily. He gets cold feet. I believe more in acting ability. I am a director and he yet has a long way to go. He’s charming on screen and he’s got a great break. He has started on his own so I am sure this experience has helped him. I will be more like a director, not father, to Varun on the sets.
What about Rohit’s career?
Rohit is starting at the end of the year. TIPS film. He’s a full-fledged director. We do discuss work at home. He’s good at his work but they laugh at me. Varun has tried to change me. They say that the level of my cinema is different and cannot be copied.”
We hear you are setting up a production house?
A production house could happen in the next 3 to 4 years. God is great, I am still working. My head is on my shoulders. When my films don’t do well I am normal. As long as I am enjoying, I
will do films. The day I lose interest I will stop.
How do you feel about making emotional films?
I had done films like ‘Swarg’. I want to make some beautiful emotional films, but comedy will be the base. I am done with the No 1 kind of films. I have given enough to the audiences. You never know about sequels. ‘Partner’ might pop in, it’s too early to talk about.
What do you feel about the new crop of directors?
They are all good. Their mastery over language is seen on the screen. They are intelligent. I saw ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’, ‘Vicky Donor’, ‘Kahaani’ and they are all good. They are a talented lot. Tanvir Habib has done two films and they were good. Their scripts are great. Everybody has their own style. The audience is changing and they love comedy and want some light films to watch.
Your ‘Chashme Baddoor’ will not have double-meaning dialogues ?
I have never used them. I believe a film should be watched by the family and such scenes or dialogues can make you uncomfortable. Dialogue and comedy should be tongue-in-cheek. Sometimes even we overlook certain things. The double meaning could also happen in an actor’s gestures. It has to be fun and naughty but it should never go overboard. If it happens with my films I try to rectify it during editing. We are a responsible people and we have to take care. I never show violence in my films.
You cast Ali Zafar for a role-played by Farooque Shaikh ?
I saw his film not because I was doing this film but I had liked his work. Viacom 18 approached me for this film and I felt that Ali fits the bill perfectly. He has given a wonderful performance and has retained that innocence in the film.
Apparently Sai Paranjpye is upset with the remake of her film ?
I have never interacted with her. It is an 80s film and my friends Ravi Baswani, who is no more now, and Rakesh Bedi worked in the film. So, I have a connection with the film. Viacom approached me but I didn’t say yes immediately. I don’t think I will approach her and Viacom has got the rights, not me. So they will do the needful. Like all my films this film is targeted at the youth and is full of fun and entertainment.
Have you retained the flavour of the 80s ?
The comedy energy is always more than expected. The pace was slow then. The momentum has changed. The main plot of three friends has been retained. How do you rate a classic? A script is a script. ‘Aankhen’ is a classic. If I hadn’t retained the title you wouldn’t have known it’s the same film. I retained the title because we had bought the remake rights. I respect that film so we went ahead.
Who is the naughtiest and meanest amongst Bollywood actors ?
Everyone in the industry is a ‘kamina’, but they are mean in an endearing way. No one wants to hurt anyone It’s just they are being naughty for the moment. We all have fun. Salman is the biggest, he can do anything but he is very caring and emotional person. The name Being Human suits him.
What is your ‘Chashme Baddoor’ about ?
It’s about three friends who have fallen for the same girl, but one wins her over. It’s about how the other two try to disrupt their relationship. Siddharth is very naughty and very professional and super talented and hard working. He’s busy in the south doing both Tamil and Telugu films. Divyendu is a talented actor and he had done ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ before. Tapsee Pannu is the surprise package. She looks fresh and is very aggressive. She is more like Preity Zinta’s younger sister. She has her own mind and is very talented.
