'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' is not a comedy: Bhushan Kumar

'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' is not a comedy: Bhushan Kumar


By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS) The promotional clippings of "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" may give the impression that it is a really funny film, but producer Bhushan Kumar says its not a full-fledged comedy.

"Of course, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' has a lot of funny moments. But those moments are combined with a supernatural element. This is a supernatural comedy, something never done before," Kumar told IANS.

The film -- starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Shiney Ahuja, Vidya Balan and Amisha Patel -- releases Friday.




The T-Series head honcho feels the days of out-and-out comedies are numbered.

"'Partner' did well. But 'Dhamaal' and 'Dhol' were not the hits they were expected to be. I think the audience is looking for a twist in their comedy. 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' provides that twist."

There is also some controversy surrounding the film. While the chant "Hare Krishna Hare Rama" in the film had some right-wing elements incensed, another song "Allah hafiz" seems to be targeting the Muslim audience to coincide with Eid.

Kumar, however, completely denies this.

He said: "We had the catchy phrase 'Allah hafiz' in mind for a long time. You know how these lines like 'Mashaa Aallah' and 'Ya Ali' are working with the younger generation.

"So there was a situation for a road song in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' where 'Allah hafiz' worked fine. That the film is being released on Eid and that Muslim audiences would like the number is just a coincidence."

As for the "Hare Rama" chant, Kumar explained: "Yes there was some objection to the visuals of a Buddha statue and some glamour element. We removed them. Even then some people objected to the song. But since it was approved by the censors there isn't much that anyone can do."

Two of Kumar's forthcoming films aren't comedies either.

"We have Nagesh Kukunoor's 'Aashayein' and the other project is tentatively titled 'Tasveer'. Both are serious films."

click here

'Krrish 3' will have powerful villain: Rakesh Roshan

Mumbai, Director Rakesh Roshan says the villain's character in "Krrish 3" will be as powerful as Hrithik's character.

"This time the anti-hero will be as powerful as the hero. See, 'Krrish' saw the birth of the superhero. Now we'll see the superhero combating other forces," Rakesh Roshan told IANS.

In "Krrish", veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah had played the villain.

Rakesh is currently busy creating his first production for an outside director.

"Our first production, which I won't direct, is a comedy that my assistant Raja Sen will direct. It's a comedy called 'Krazy 4' with four main characters played by Irrfan Khan, Arshad Warsi, Rajpal Yadav and Suresh Menon. Diya Mirza plays the female lead.

"Raja Sen has been with me for the last three years and assisted me in three films. Since I'm working on the third superhero film, I let him do this script. We'll finish Raja's film before I start mine. Any film that comes from my banner has to be equally competent."

"Krrish 3" is presently in the scripting stage.

"I can't focus on more than one project at a time. Maybe that's my weakness. We're working on the script. The story has to be just right. The plot has to be inspiring. I've to get that gut feeling that the plot is right. The special effects aren't the main thing...the plot is. Until I'm happy with that I won't start 'Krissh 3'.

"Let's face it, we can't match 'Spiderman 3' in budget. But if they give 10 action scenes I'll do two with equal finesse. We've to out do them in content and count on Indian audiences being more interested in Hrithik than Tobey Maguire," the director said.

Rakesh Roshan agrees "Dhoom 2" and "Krrish" have taken Hrithik far ahead of competition.

"Luckily, he had a big success outside the home production. So now people have stopped saying he's workable only with me. Of course, we will always work together. No director understands him better than me, and he knows it. Our three films together have built a track record for ourselves. I've just seen some photographs of 'Jodha-Akbar'. Hrithik is looking terrific."

At home, grandson Hrehaan keeps Rakesh Roshan busy.

"Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching Hrithik and Hrehaan playing together. And since I've no movie on the floors right now I've all the time in the world to spend with him.

"We celebrated Hrehaan's first birthday recently. Seeing all those children in the house ... he was so surprised and delighted. I could see he was having a good time. Hrehaan is a very pleasant child."

Asked whom Hrehaan resembled, he said: "Both his parents...actually more of his mother Susanne than Hrithik."

He says that god has been very kind to him and his family.

"I'm not in competition with anyone. I just shut my eyes and ears to all the unhealthy competition in the industry. Nobody can make or break you. It's only your karma that guides your destiny."