7 minute read
"I make a fun world...” - Raaj Shaandilyaa
Dream Girl director Raaj Shaandilyaa tells Sumita Chakraborty why he loves working on comedy films and more.
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His film Dream Girl starring the multi-talented Ayushmann Khurana was a laugh-a-thon and had people doubling over with laughter. Known for his witty and laughterreplete scripts, director-writer Raaj Shaandilyaa is a known name in the genre of comedy. In fact, ask him what he loves to do best, and Raaj avers: I love to make people laugh! Read on as Raaj Shaandilyaa talks about making his film Dream Girl, his bond with Ayushmann Khurana and his love affair with comedy
How did you enter Bollywood? How has the journey been?
I started my career as a TV writer - there was a show known as Comedy Circus which I wrote for seven years - then another show - Comedy Nights With Kapil. So I have been writing for more than 7-8 years and perhaps even before that. Then I thought I had done enough of TV and I should try writing a script with a different type of comedy. When I was writing Comedy Circus in 2013, I got a call from director Anees Bazmi who offered me a film - Welcome Back which was sequel of the movie Welcome for which I wrote dialogues, and post that, I was offered movies one after the other. People loved my work and that is how I entered Bollywood. The journey has been fantastic and I enjoyed a lot and every time I got a new learning. In fact, even now I am learning and this journey has truly been fantastic. For me, success is a journey and not a destination.
Your film Dream Girl was very wittily written. Where do you get the inspiration to write such witty scripts?
My Dream girl idea originated much before Orkut and Facebook. One of my friends was chatting and the person whom he was chatting with was a guy - and my friend didn’t know that a guy was chatting with him as a girl. He went to meet this guy and then only he came to know that the person he was chatting with for a month was not a girl but a guy. That’s when the idea came into my head, but at that time I didn’t think of making a film based on it. However, when my co-writer Nirmaan told me a similar story, I decided to make a film based on this. The story was new but was not working. Then there was this idea of a story where a guy from a small town who participate in Ramleela and could take out a pure female voice. He doesn’t get a job and being jobless, he starts working at a call centre where girls would trap guys after speaking to them on the phone sweetly. The topic was witty and we knew people would like it. And this is how it was written. And whatever I am writing now will also have wittiness, I want my hero to be smart, make people laugh because in today’s time comedy is in demand and this is why I try to write comedy and witty scripts. And I will continue to do this.
Where did you draw the inspiration to write Ayushmann’s character?
When we were writing Puja’s character, we wanted a person whose body would be lean and should have knowledge of voice modulation. So Ayushman was always the first choice for this character more so because he has always done a new character in every film that he has worked in. So we thought of him doing this film because he had a lean body, he was a RJ and singer so knew voice modulation. After that of course, he practiced and did rehearsals to sound like a female. Honestly, I always had Ayushmaan in mind hence this character was written and if he would not have done the film then I would have not made this film
Are there any scenes or jokes that were cut out last minute?
No, in the entire film, we didn’t cut or edit any funny or witty scenes. We shot it very cut-to-cut from the finalized scripts so we didn’t face any issues later.
Which is your favourite dialogue in the movie that was best spoken by Ayushmann?
There are many dialogues which are my favorite - I can’t be biased to just one. The one monologue Ayushmann delivered during the climax scene, however, is my favourite. The way he delivered his words was enchanting.
If not Ayushmann who do you think would be able to carry out the role?
If this wouldn’t have been played by Ayushmann Khurana then I wouldn’t have made this film. If I had decided to make it without him then I would’ve participated in it
Have you always had a passion for writing witty scripts or did you ever engage in other genres like romance, thrillers and action?
Since the beginning, I’ve been writing comedy genres but that doesn’t mean I haven’t worked on other genres too. It doesn’t mean that I don’t write action, thriller and other genres. I do! If you see the webseries and films of today, you hardly see comedy in it. I want to work on my own theme and that’s comedy. I make a fun world - and I believe that the world definitely needs the best of oxygen… that’s comedy.
How difficult was it to direct the film Dream Girl?
I won’t say directing Dream Girl was difficult. Of course, it was my debut in direction, so I was definitely a little nervous as I was doing the film with a huge star ‘Ayushmann Khurana’ who had already given so many hits. Also since he was working with a new director, I questioned myself: Will I be able to justify my work? Eventually I had such a great bonding with Ayushmann Bhai along with others as well and the connection was so strong that we finished 48 days schedule in 46 days. It was such a happy and fun atmosphere. We never felt that we were on the sets to shoot, it felt like we were at a picnic.
Who would you like to star as the lead in your next film?
My next film is also going to be with Ayushmann Khurana. I had a discussion with him during Dream Girl that every film I write, you’ll be the first one to hear the script. If he doesn’t want to do it, then only I’ll think of someone else.
What does the pressure feel like just before a film gets released?
I can’t really explain the pressure one day before the release. The film released on September 13, the next day was Ayushmann’ birthday (September 14) and September 16 is my birthday. So I had all the battles on around the release - also my parents were in Mumbai then for the premiere. It felt like result time of an exam I gave. I’m really so grateful to my parents and everyone’s blessings that it successfully had one of the biggest openings of Balaji.
How do you deal with negative comments people make in terms of reviews?
The only reviews matters to me are by my audience. I write films for the audiences and not critics. Everyone around me loved the film. I’m not a person who doesn’t want to hear critics’ out. I always research and ask opinions from people close to me whether I’m doing something right or if something’s missing. So I definitely work on the missing parts. I also want to make mistakes to stay human. (Laughs)
What interests you more, dialogue writing or directing?
Dialogue writing and direction are two different things. I can’t distinguish between them. Dialogue writing is my passion and delivering it to the audience is my direction. It’s as important as choosing one between a mother and a father. It’s impossible.
Tell us about some of your favourite Bollywood films and why you loved them?
I loved a lot of Bollywood movies especially Sai Paranjpe’s tales where back then she narrated the famous tortoise and rabbit’s story with brilliant metaphors. I loved Hera Pheri and Andaaz Apna Apna. I feel these stories gain blessings from people entertaining them and by making them laugh. I also am a fan of Tere Naam - one of the best emotional films of Salman Khan bhai. A film which gives a strong message and which every family could sit together and watch are the movies I’m connected to.
What are your other projects?
The one I’m producing is ‘Janhit Mein Jari’ with Nushrat Barucha. There are few more in the pipeline. Apart from this, I’m directing a film currently.
