Expect the unexpected this time from Madhur Bhandarkar. The director, known for his films based on reality, has now decided to tickle your funny bone with “Dil To Baccha Hai Ji” releasing on January 28. “But unlike what is said for other comedies, I request the audience not to leave their brains behind but bring them to the theatre,” says Bhandarkar, adding, “The comedy is neither over-the-top nor is the treatment vulgar. It's a simple, feel-good film.”
“Dil To Baccha Hai Ji”, inspired by the “Ishqiya” song, is the story of three naïve men who are roommates. Ajay Devgn plays a 38-year-old going through a divorce, gym instructor Emraan Hashmi is a free spirit, and Omi Vaidya is an idealistic no-sex-before-marriage man. How the three and their lives change after falling in love with three girls is what the film is about. “For a change I thought I should make a guy flick unlike all my other female-oriented films. Most people ask me why a comedy but those who know me and have worked with me know about my sense of humour. I may be making the most serious film, yet I keep cracking jokes on the sets. In all my films, I inject humour through the characters of peons or drivers,” says Bhandarkar.
The director says that he has been highly influenced by the works of Basu Chatterji and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. “I'd be honoured if someone would find my films akin to the modern-day version of the works of these directors. At least that's my aim,” he says. “People will relate to my characters and realise that they are very much within the parameters of Madhur Bhandarkar cinema. My film is logical; I did not ever want to make a mad comedy. I have made it as real as possible, my actors look pretty much like people you may bump into in everyday life. Does it only take bizarreness and vulgarity to make people laugh? I don't think so.”
After tasting success with one style of filmmaking, didn't the fear of entering uncharted territory daunt him? “I know it's easy to get typecast. There are as many people looking forward to this film as there are those waiting to view it with a microscopic lens. Many are worried that it may misfire but I am confident about what I have made. The music is already doing quite well,” he affirms.
While Ajay Devgn and Omi Vaidya (Chatur from “3 Idiots”) have proved their comic skills, this is going to be a first for Emraan Hashmi. “Yes, but I am certain that his image as either the serial killer or the serial kisser will change after this. When he came for the role, he asked me ‘kiski band bajaani hai?' ( ‘Who shall we kill this time?') given my record for realistic themes. When I told him it was a comedy, he was surprised.”
Ask him why his title is taken from a song and he frankly admits that he thought it would work well for the movie. “‘Ishqiya' released after I penned my film and that's when I heard the song. It works fabulously with the theme though it's the first time that I have chosen such a lengthy title and that too one that begins with Dil !”
