Chup Chup Ke is my very first dramatic comedy film

Priyadarshan needs no introduction. He started his film career in 1983 and till date has already been associated with 65 films in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi languages. Recently after the success of Malamaal Weekly and Garam Masala, he is all set to deliver a hat-trick with Chup Chup Ke.

How would you describe Chup Chup Ke?

Chup Chup Ke is a story about two people: one who is deaf and dumb and the other who fakes to be deaf and dumb and the comic sequences that follow their lives. Having said this I would like to add that those who have seen Hulchul, Hungama, Garam Masala or Malamaal Weekly, they will not be disappointed. They will have enough to laugh about. Chup Chup Ke is incidently my very first dramatic-comedy. I?m sure to not disspoint my favourite audience i.e. children and along with their parents can also have a good laugh seeing this film.

Do you think that big stars help in the success of the film?

As far as my experience and knowledge of filmmaking goes, I would beg to differ. I think in any film made by any director neither a costly set-up, nor extensive aborad shooting, nor big stars and nor superb music can guarantee success is the film on the whole and not in bits and pieces. In Chup Chup Ke, I?ve done my best to combine its various elements so that the audience can have a wonderful time being entertained.

Did you have any specific reason to cast Kareena & Shahid as a pair in the film?

No, nothing like that! It?s only because of the subject. Throughout my direction career, I have never chosen actors based on their star-status. It?s always been a script issue and have only taken the artistes that the script suggests. My film is about one person who is really deaf & dumb and one person who is faking it. I saw couple of films of Shahid and I think he is a good actor and I would also be able to comfortably handle him, that?s it. Besides, the age of the love story suits their age perfectly.

Do you think personal chemistry between actors helps in a film?

I don?t believe in anything apart from my film?s script and my directing abilities. It?s of no concern if my actors share a good rapport or strained relationships. All that matters is how they perform when I say ?Action? and the same applies to this and every other film of mine. I don?t believe in any of this super-star thing or this much-hyped chemistry thing.

Is this film a lighter version of the film KOSHISH that starred Sanjeev Kumar?

See, if you think like that, then I would say almost every other subject that?s being made today will find resemblance to some or many other projects of the past or in Hollywood. So it?s not correct to try and draw similarity between films just because some of their ideas seem similar. Coming to your question, in KOSHISH, both the actors were actually handicapped and that was a serious film; while in my film one person is faking it and that?s where the comedy starts.

Any special treatment that you have given this film?

Yes! I?ve mostly made out and out comedies only after VIRAASAT. And I?ve been observing that romantic films have been increasingly falling flat on their faces in the recent past. So with Chup Chup Ke, I?ve made a conscious effort to stress more on the romance aspect and thereby make it a Romantic-Comedy with most of the film on the romantic side.

Your film is all set for an opening day fight with Phir Hera Pheri...

Yes, I?m aware of that fact. And I?m also ready for the challenge. In today?s times when romantic films are failing by the lot, all I want to prove is that if a film is made well, nothing else matters. And I am going to prove it with this romantic comedy against the out and out comedy.

What?s your take on PHIR HERA PHERI?

Well, all I will say is that, they had approached me to make the sequel. But I believe that nothing can surpass an original. I did not think I could better the original and I have a strong belief