What is your next release ‘Golmaal’ all about?

‘Golmaal’ is a family comedy about four guys who are good for nothing. They live for each day. And how, they run away from situations, escaping from lenders and all the awkward situations. It’s about how they land up in a house and how they manage to stay in that house and what ‘Golmaal’ happens in that house is what the story is all about.

Not too many girls except Rimi…So is it a film about male bonding?

It’s one of those male bonding films who go through funny situations. And with Paresh who plays a blind man with his wife who also plays a blind woman, there are lots of funny situations.

You started off with a dancing hero image in ‘Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai’….But looking at your films off late do you think you haven’t been really capitalizing on that?

Because the films that I’ve done in the last two three years like ‘Khaki’, ‘Gayab’ didn’t suit my character to break into a dance….Kya Kool Hain Hum had it but it didn’t have me totally capitalizing upon my dancing skills. But now, I am doing a few solo hero films. In ‘Good Boy Bad Boy’ I am doing a dance song in a dance competition. So, it depends upon the genre of the film.

Your role in ‘Khaki’ was supposed to be done by Akshay Khanna

Yeah he left it at the last minute…Thank God for that. I had ten days for preparing before the film started and it was such a big cast with a film directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi. I was nervous but from the first day itself, everything went very well. If you have a chemistry with the director then that shows on the screen. I am also playing a small cameo in his next film.

Raj Kumar Santoshi was supposed to direct a movie for your banner also?

Yeah…But it didn’t work out then.

Will you consider ‘Khaki’ to be a turning point in your career?

Yes surely. My earlier films worked very well but then I made a few mistakes. Some films didn’t live up to my expectations. The songs worked but the films didn’t. That’s why I changed my strategy and ‘Khaki’ was the first film that proved to be a turning point. Since then I have been selective and things have been good. Hope ‘Golmaal’ adds to my successes.

So you too are going the Aamir Khan way…

I think quality works. Quality control is important and it adds to your brand value. Today Aamir is such a big star. People know that he works only in good films. He pays attention to every aspect and that impression communicates to people as well. People who do any and every film end up diluting their worth. They are left with nothing. But it’s not as if that I will do only one film in two years. If I like the script I do it. I would want my releases to happen more often but they should be well worth it.

How was it working with actors like Ajay, Paresh, Arshad and Sharman in ‘Golmaal’?

All these guys are ‘Maharathi’ in comedy. It is a very ‘hat ke’ comedy

What are the films that you are currently doing?

After ‘Golmaal’ my next release will be ‘Good Boy Bad Boy’, then I shall start shooting for ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ which is a multi starrer. Then I am doing a film for Shyam Bajaj called ‘Agar’ and after that I will do a film for my own banner directed by Neeraj Vohra which has not been titled yet.

And what about the sequel to ‘Kya Kool Hain Hum’ which was supposed to start soon after the first version became a hit?

That will start next year. And I think people will remember ‘Kya Kool Hain Hum’ for they remembered ‘Hera Pheri’ and went and saw the sequel in huge numbers even after six years gap. Moreover Sangeeth (Sivan) is busy with a few projects and he has to finish that before we can start on our film.

How has been the response to ‘Krrish’ for the first day?

The response is very good. And judging by the first day’s response, ‘Krrish’ is all set to be a super duper hit. It’s great news for all of us.

Music of ‘Krrish’ has been received very well by the public while the critics have appreciated the variety offered by you

Variety was the demand of the story. The first half of the film is based in village and so there had to be that folk element woven into the story. The second half of the film is shot in Singapore where we had to have music according to the city taste. So, somewhere we had to find a middle road for making the music of this film. I can say it is a mixture of Indian as well as Western flavors.

You’ve been around for the last four decades and still going strong. What is the secret of your longevity?

God is kind. I have done less work, selected work. I work at a leisurely pace. And that may be the reason why I lay a lot of importance on the quality of my music.

What are some of your best works in your appraisal?

Kunwara Baap, Julie, Mr Natwarlal, Yaraana, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Jurm to name a few. ‘Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye’ from ‘Jurm’ is one of my favorites.

Who have been your musical influences?

Old songs of S D Burman, Madan Mohan ji, My father Roshan Sahab and Shankar-Jaikishan are a few of my inspirations.

Your compositions are mostly Western and Folk. Do you think it limited you somehow?

In every decade, when generations change, new things come about. I was more influenced by the light western disco numbers. And that became my style. My songs from ‘Julie’ are still listened with great interest. So many people have remixed them. Therein lies my success that the context which I chose for myself has given inspiration to others to follow.

Who are the music directors of the current era whom you like?

I like Anu Malik, Himesh Reshamiya, A R Rehman, Pritam and Jatin-Lalit.

You’ve remixed two of your own songs in ‘Krrish’ and the end result is great.

I remixed my songs out of anger as I was not sure as to what somebody else might have done with my songs. These days, they just put a ‘Dhikchik Dhikchik’ in the name of remixing which I don’t find acceptable.

What other projects are you working on currently?

I am working on one or two films and I shall make the announcements at the right time.

You worked with Javed Akhtar in ‘Papa Kehte Hain’ but now you prefer taking new lyricists. Any particular reason for that?

It is easier to mould new writers. Since they are new, they work extra hard to give the best results.

Your nephew Hrithik Roshan has done an extraordinary job in ‘Krrish’. How does it feel?

He is a hardworking boy who takes his work seriously. It’s good to have this trait in a youngster. But not only him, everyone worked very hard on ‘Krrish’ and the results are there for everyone to see. Hope the next few days continue to remain the same as today.

Hrithik likes your music very much

He told me that he has copied all my songs from various films on CDs and that he listens to them constantly. According to him, my rhythm is simple and that’s what he likes about my music.

How is life post Rang De Basanti?

Well, it is heartening, it is wonderful, it is great to be accepted by the critics and the public

Yours was the only character that was not well etched, like there was no reference point to your family life. Do you think your role was edited?

Nothing like that. See, every character need not have a family life because you are making a two and a half hour three hour film, so you possibly can not accommodate everything. What is required is if the character really demands a family life then it is different. It is as simple as that. It all depends upon the director’s point of view, the writer’s point of view as to how they imagine a certain role.

How was it like working with Aamir Khan?

It was a treat. Special. Very very special. He is a special guy, a superb actor. He is a special human being. And it is an experience which will be with me for a long time.

You started off with niche films like ‘Style’ and ‘Excuse Me’, then did a big budget ‘Shaadi No.1’ and now ‘Rang De Basanti’ which is a blockbuster. How has life changed in the last six months?

It is nice. When you are embarking on your career, one wants to work with leading directors, writers and actors. And I am living my dream. It’s a humbling feeling. Makes me feel more responsible.

I read that you’ve decided not to do any more comedies

Actually what I said was that I wouldn’t do any more comedies at this juncture. I don’t feel like doing an out and out comedy. I am alright with a romantic comedy film, a thriller comedy, an action comedy. But I just feel that I want to do comedy which has a little more substance to it. More depth to it. And two years down the line there may be a point of time when I may want to do an out and out comedy, so it is all relative, it’s intuitive.

What is it that you liked about Golmaal that made you sign it?

I loved the plot of ‘Golmaal’. I am an avid film watcher and for me personally I haven’t seen such an interesting plot. That’s the USP of this film. And hopefully our audiences feel that same too.

What are the other films that you are doing currently?

There’s one film that I’ve signed. Raj Kanwar and T-Series are producing it. Anurag Singh is the director. Rahul Khanna, Tanushree Dutta and myself are in it. It has not been titled yet. But it’s in the Social Drama genre.

Do you want to do solo films or is multi starrers the order of the day?

See, Solo films are also related to commerce. So, for me as an actor to pull off a film considering there’s a lot of money involved, I am ok with the fact that a producer or a director may not want to take that risk at this point of time. But of course if there’s an interesting script and there’s a producer backing it, I would latch on to it.

How is it like working with stars like stars like Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal and Ajay Devgan?

Ajay again is a big star, big actor. He has won national awards. I felt intimidated again. It’s the same process that started from ‘Shaadi No.1’. First Sanjay Dutt, then Aamir Khan and now Ajay Devgan. But all these three men have this special quality that they put you at ease. They make sure that their co-stars are comfortable. They ensure a healthy working environment so that as an actor I can give my best. As far as Arshad is concerned, then his timing is a treat. His common sense, his spontaneity, it keeps you on the toes and keeps you alive. And it becomes quite easy for you as an actor as you know that once you’ve said your line, you shall get the right kind of response. Paresh Rawal again. His theatre background. And the fact that he worked with my dad Arvind Joshi was a big help. I’ve seen Paresh bhai as a kid. I’ve sat in the same green room with him. It was as if I was living my childhood dream.

You have quite a bit of theatre experience yourself…

I have around eight odd years of theatre experience. Since the time I’ve graduated from college I’ve been associated with the stage.

Any plans of doing work with director N Chandra who gave you a break with ‘Style’

Nothing as yet. But if there’s something in the offing, then I would love to do it.