Riteish Deshmukh is late for the media interaction. Terribly, terribly late. When the media is just about to walk out, he arrives in style, apologising a bit and promising “a great interview to make up for it”. So, we settle down.
Humshakals is being trolled on social media but brickbats notwithstanding, Riteish has a success party to attend that night. “Let’s say the verdict is still not out on the film. We’ve got a Rs. 40-crore weekend. If that is not a good BO, then I don’t know what is! Of course, we can’t turn our backs to the criticism. Critics are extremely good guide points, but sometimes public opinion differs. I know that some really mean jokes are going around about the film, but I feel it is more of a competition about whose joke can better the last one. It has happened to many celebrities in the recent past — Alok Nathji for one. Social media jokes are not disturbing,” says Riteish.
Within a week of the Sajid Khan film, Riteish has the Mohit Suri film Ek Villain slated for a June 27 release. And this one showcases him in a totally different light. Riteish plays a telephone maintenance guy who is reportedly a serial killer. Asked if he was concerned about audience reaction to the jump in genres with two dramatically different films in successive weeks, he says, “I know that on a practical level, things change quickly. The screen count will go low. A lot will also depend on how hot your second film is. However, I am as excited about Ek Villain as I was about Humshakals . I have always been asked why comedy and, though I don’t want to say that Ek Villain is the answer, as it is too early to say anything, I certainly hope it is! It will give filmmakers an idea of the range of roles I can do.”
Wife and actress Genelia D’Souza has a lot to do with his decision to take on the role of the antagonist. “Two weeks before I was offered the film, Genelia had told me that I must take up something in the dark space. When Ek Villain came my way, she asked me to just take it on. I didn’t even know who the other actors were. I said yes just because the subject appealed,” he says, adding that Shraddha Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra came on board later.
Ek Villain has been a mentally challenging role, says Riteish, “The character had no crutch — no menacing makeup, no limp or action sequences. Rakesh is a simple guy. He could be the person you are travelling with in the train and never know what’s going on in his mind. He is against my personality. On the first day of the shoot, in fact, I couldn’t fathom why he was doing what he was. By the third day, I could digest the character. But by the sixth day, and that was the scary part, I felt I could be him. Each of us can let out negativity in a very wrong way and I sensed that up close and personal.”
The year holds a lot of promise, with the couple expecting their first baby and Riteish’s first Marathi film as actor, Nishikant Kamat’s masala entertainer Lai Bhaari, lined up for release on July 11.
On sex comedies
“When I said earlier that I wouldn’t like to do another Grand Masti, I never meant I would never touch a sex comedy. I quite like the genre and hey that was a Rs. 100-crore film for me! I know we went a little overboard and people didn’t appreciate it, but I will still do something in that space if there is uniqueness. Else I have given all that I could have. I love The Hangover, for instance, and if someone tries to make a film like that, I’d be in.”
On Marathi films
“Producing Balak Palak and Yellow (Special Jury Award at the National Awards this year) has given me the sort of confidence that I am enjoying. I will continue producing good content-driven Marathi films. As for acting in them, I will do it only if my Bollywood commitments permit. Nishikant Kamat’s Lai Bhaari is something I am really excited about. It’s a great title that everyone uses colloquially and it’s a great subject too.”
