Humour can never die: Priyardarshan on 20 years of 'Hera Pheri'

Priyarshan has me some of best comedies in Hindi cinema but director says it ne of it would have been possible without cult success of "Hera Pheri", which completes 20 years on March 31.

National award-winning filmmaker was roped in by producer Firoz Niwala for an action film Raftaar, starring action stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, who h a negative im at time.

Priyarshan said he was t confident about making an action movie so he decided to go ahe with script of "Hera Pheri", a remake of Malayalam movie Ramji Rao Speaking' by Siddique and Lal. 

At centre of film are three men -- gullible Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Rawal), con man (Akshay) and unemployed do-gooder (Suniel). y find an answer to all ir financial problems when y receive a call from a kidnapper but things don't go as planned.

"I was extremely confident that it will work. I appreciate Suniel Shetty, who believed this film will be cult. It is t that Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal didn't have confidence but he (Suniel) was more confident. Even after ar 10 years or more, you can relive this film because humour can never die," Priyarshan told PTI in an interview.

director, best kwn for films such "Hera Pheri", Hungama, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, said most of his comedies are about humour of poverty, inspired by Charlie Chaplin and films like "Laurel and Hardy".

Hera Pheri' is inspired by Laurel and Hardy', Charlie Chaplin. It is about humour of poverty. I have me films on humour of poverty because I have lived in a lower middle class family, he said.

idea of story, however, came from 1971 film See Man Run, which revolved around a wrong number, a ransom call and a struggling actor. 

" film is a remake of a Malayalam movie Ramji Rao Speaking'. Most of my films are tried and tested in Malayalam cinema and n me here, except Malamaal Weekly'. idea was South has enjoyed it so let rth also enjoy it," he said.

Priyarshan revealed he was signed by Niwala for a film titled Raftaar, an out-an-out action movie, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Akshay, Paresh and Karishma Kapoor. This film also h a grand launch. "A lot of times, projects happen just to influence distributors or buyers. This was one such project where I was unaware what I was going to make.

"I was t interested as it was t my cup of tea. Rar I narrated this idea (of Hera Pheri') to Neeraj Vora (actor-writer), thanks to Akshay, Suniel and Paresh fell for it and producer h choice but to make it because actors loved it."

Akshay and Suneil were kwn as action heroes at that time and Rawal was primarily seen in negative roles. "Everybody h same doubts, I believe as long as actors are good and script is in right n things fall in place," Priyarshan said about his 'against im' casting.

director said Rawal took a lot of trouble to play Baburao Ganpatrao Apte,  a character that became popular viewers later.

"He changed his body langu and wore soda bottle glasses, which was challenging as you go completely out of focus. He would count his steps as he couldn't see anything." "Hera Pheri" turned out to be a massive success and Priyardarshan credits Vora for contributing a lot to film and his le actors for believing in his vision.

film gave a boost to Akshay's career and director said he is thankful to superstar for ackwledging it.

"Akshay has said it quite a few times that Priyarshan taught me how to act in comedies. Today he is a big star, t many people say it. I am very happy Akshay said this. Before 'Hera Pheri', he h 16 flops. I enjoy working with Akshay because he believes in me. We have h 90 per cent success ratio."

Priyarshan said he did t return as a director for sequel as he did t enjoy working with producer. sequel was directed by Vora. " experience of working on first one was disappointing as y (producers) never believed in my film. He rar went and shot two songs without my kwledge, which I got to kw when I saw film, songs were removed later.

"I decided t to work with those who do t believe in me. He did ask me if I will do second part, I said, I am t interested. I feel first part was born, second one fell sick and third part will die."

director, who is a fan of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee, said success of "Hera Pheri" encourd him to make more light-hearted movies in Hindi. "When I me 'Hera Pheri', re was a huge poverty in Hindi cinema for comedies. My first experiment here turned out well. It is success of 'Hera Pheri' that me me do more comedy films like 'Hungama', 'Malamaal Weekly' and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'."