‘A good script is vital for comedy’

Abhay Deol with co-star in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd

Abhay Deol is elated with the success of Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. Vickey Lalwani met the actor to find out about his forthcoming film Ek Chalis Ki Last Local and more

Of course, yes. Actually, we were quite confident that it would click. It is really important for an actor to have his film click. A success or failure can change your standing in the market.

Tell us about your next film Ek Chalis Ki Last Local.
It’s a film that’s set in a very real, urban setting, and is yet very entertaining. It is an honest attempt to capture a slice of life and look at it from a humorous perspective.
It is a hatke script of director Sanjay Khanduri. Music’s infectious and apart from Sandesh Shandilya, the music has also been worked on by Pakistani bands Call and Ankur.

What’s your role in the film?
I am someone who is almost like an idiot out there. Yet he thinks that he can handle any kind of situation and get out of it. It’s a very interesting and humorous character. One night in his life changes it forever.

The song Laaree Choote is catching up very well.
You can say that again. People are loving the number and I have been hearing rave reviews of it. It was great fun getting the song ready. From the conceptualisation to the execution to the final product, it all went very enthusiastically.

As you’re a Deol, you must not have travelled by trains?
I have! I travelled by train even when I had to go to the American Embassy when I was leaving for the US a few years ago. For Ek Chalis..., we would go to Bhayandar railway station at night. Still there would be people in thousands. On one occasion, they started pelting stones at the generator van, artistes van and unit buses. They never touched my car though. All they wanted was my autograph. I sat in a train and must have given them 5,000 autographs just to keep them calm. During night shoots, we had to rush to take shots before daylight.

Do you browse scripts before signing projects?
Absolutely. When I like them I read them thrice. I must have read the script of Ek Chalis`85 at least six times and laughed out louder each time. A script is vital, especially in a comedy. And comedy has worked quite a bit of late, as shown in Phir Hera Pheri, Malamaal Weekly, Golmaal, Apna Sapna Money Money and, of course, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.

Are you consciously making an effort to do films that are different from the kinds that your brothers Sunny and Bobby act in?
Sunny bhaiya and Bobby bhaiya are great at what they do, but I am different. Hence, would like to do different films. — TWF

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