'Bring-down-the-house' Khan!

You usually work with an ensemble cast. Do you think a huge cast in comedy movies adds to the movie?

Every movie comes with its own nature of story and subject material. When you see Housefull 2, you would realise that the subject material is such that you need many characters since it is a comedy with confusion. There are many fathers and daughters and so many grooms; all in one house! Just having many actors in a film doesn’t ensure that your film is going to be a good film. Now for instance, my next film is Himmatwalla with Ajay Devgn only. No ensemble cast there. It depends on the story line.

 

What was it like working with a huge star cast again?

It was easy and at the same time difficult because there were many senior actors, young heroes, young heroines and busy actors too! There were veterans like Johny Lever, Mithun Chakraborty and Rishi Kapoor. It was easy because they are all friends of mine, they love me very much and respect me as a filmmaker; difficult, because there were certain expectations which I had to fulfil from an audience point of view with respect to the actors. 

 

All your movies have been comedies so far. Would you want to consider experimenting with other genres?

My path is one path, and it is called entertainment. I will always make entertaining films for the audience to have a good time and to enjoy. I’ve been experimenting with all my films; Heyy Babyy was an out-and-out emotional family drama which had comedy in it, Housefull was a romantic comedy and Housefull 2 is much more than just a comedy or a drama. It is total entertainment! 

 

Your films are not exactly lauded by critics, like say Farha, Zoya or Farhan’s movies are. Don’t you aspire for critical acclaim? 

Critics make no difference to me and I don’t care whose films have been appreciated by the critics and whose films are not being appreciated by the critics. I don’t bother and I’ve never read a single review of my films, even when the ratings have been like 3.5 or 4 stars. I know all these facts and figures because my people in my team would message me. I fired them. Reviews don’t affect me. My films are not made for reviewers and critics. They are made for the audience. Talking about Farah, Farhan and Zoya, they are my siblings, my family, and I always wish that their films do much better than mine.

 

How do Farah and you collaborate over the movies either of you make? 

Farah and I have never ever interfered in each other’s work. We have never ever influenced each other’s work. I’ve never taken suggestions from anybody. For creatives, sometimes, I get into discussions with my technical team and my actors. I’d listen to everybody, but eventually do what I feel is the right thing. 

 

You debuted with Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate. Any plans of going back to acting?

To be honest, I never wanted to be an actor. I did one film and that was only out of my respect for Mr Hrishikesh Mukherjee (director of the film). 

 

Do you think it easier to work with friends?

Yes! Even if I work with those I’ve never worked with before, I make sure I become friends with them as it makes life easier and creates a level of trust. 

 

Out of all the actors you have worked with, who do you think you share the best actor-director chemistry with?

I have to say Akshay Kumar. I laughed a lot during the shooting of the film. What I like to do is make sure that the characters perform in a new and different way or keep adding inputs and not just stick to the script. And most of the times what Akshay adds to the scene, makes me laugh a lot. I love to see him act. We share a great bond.