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Delivering solutions

`Home Delivery' is a clean comedy for family audiences, says Vivek Oberoi

FUN TIME Vivek Oberoi

There rests a little success where there is a little laughter, they say. But bringing a smile to someone's life is not an easy task. Talking of Bollywood particularly, we have an array of actors turning into people's representatives in the Parliament, but not many have been able to bring a smile to their voters' faces.

But there are some whose films may not become instant hits but they remain dear to people for their efforts for the man on the street. And that's why, when a journalist gets to meet them, a query about their social work always forms a part of the questionnaire.

Actor Vivek Oberoi is one such personality, who gained respect for his social work in the wake of last year's tsunami disaster.

The reason to chat with him now is because of his film Home Delivery, which is already creating a buzz due to its unusual title and the promos.

An out-and-out comedy film, Home Delivery is all about a "celebrated journalist" played by Vivek, who is an "Agony Uncle" in a column that he writes for a newspaper and fantasises about an actress played by Mahima Choudhary. Boman Irani plays a pizza deliveryman, who invariably ends up solving the problem of those households where he delivers pizzas, and knowing Vivek's wish, delivers Mahima in a pizza box at his house. Oberoi's fiancée in the film, played by Ayesha Takia, is the other attraction of the storyline.

"I play a celebrated journo in the film whose quick answers, convincing power and wit are his strengths. I become more famous as I get an offer from a film director Karan Johar to write the script of his next film. I con people at every step into believing me. My editor, played by Juhi Chawla, puts up with all my tantrums and even takes in her stride my late arrival to the office as she thinks the paper is running only because of my column. The problems start when a pizza delivery man home-delivers my dream actress Mahima Choudhury in a box," says Vivek who promises the film is a neat and clean comedy, which will bring no embarrassment if seen with the family.

The film may be devoid of embarrassment but Vivek is known for bringing lots of it to his co- actors. He admits, "I played a fast one with Ayesha on the sets this time."

"A portrait of an old lady hangs on a wall in the film. I whispered to Ayesha that the portrait was looking awful and it shouldn't be there. A gullible Ayesha intimated it to the art director Mansi saying she wanted it to change. Mansi wasn't in a condition to replace it so she sulkily said, she would try. For three days, it kept happening. On the fourth day, I asked Ayesha why had told Mansi about this? She is sulking because it is her mother's portrait! A shocked Ayesha apologised to Mansi only to find her adamant on replacing the portrait immediately. Ayesha apologised saying, `I didn't know it was your mother.' A shocked Mansi retorted, `Who told you this is my mother. I don't even know her? First, you call someone awful, then label her my mother... ' And Ayesha was after my life for the rest of the shoot," laughs Vivek. And he spreads this laughter to many lives through his NGO, Yashodhara Foundation for the benefit of cancer patients under which he has recently initiated a programme `Angels for Angels' through which he will sponsor heart operations for underprivileged children.

"I have already tied up with Apollo Hospitals. Naresh Trehan of Escorts Hospital has also supported this cause," says a visibly happy Vivek.

Under this programme, four children have already been successfully operated upon, he informs. His Foundation also helps the rehabilitation of the mentally challenged, physically and sexually abused children. "People often tell me that I do so much for others, but I beg to differ. I do it for myself, for my happiness," he says.

Future projects

In films though, he still doesn't have any specific image. "I am trying to prove myself as a decent actor," he says. He is trying to "improve on dialogue delivery" too.

And next in his kitty are "a hilarious comedy" Pyaare Mohan by Indra Kumar and Naqsha by Sachin Bajaj, an action-oriented film.

RANA SIDDIQUI

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