The calm of Wahi was not disturbed by the sound of shoot. It was a calm and cordial atmosphere on the sets of Percept Pictures’ latest comic caper, directed by Priyadarshan. Shailendra Singh listened with great interest as director Priyadarshan seemed at ease, sitting in a sugarcane field, discussing the scene with Nana Patekar and Shreyas Talpade.
It has taken more than a year to set the film up and move it to the shoot level. When quizzed, Singh is clear. “We wanted to look beyond the star culture, to look at a league of extraordinary gentlemen, extraordinary actors, who would bring their own flavour and add value to the script. Co-ordinating their dates was no easy task.”
True. For, the film that is helmed by Priyadarshan, stars Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav, Shreyas Talpade, Asrani and Shakti Kapoor among others and is set in real settings.
Nana Patekar is excited to be part of a Priyan film. “We had planned so many films, but it feels too good when one film happens. More than anything else, I love to act and leave the rest to my director. That is what happens with Priyan,” enthuses Nana.
For Shreyas, it is a “double whammy. I am excited in working with Priyan Sir and Nana ji,” says Shreyas. “And when Shailendra Singh called me and told me I was in,:” I couldn’t control my excitement.” Priyan is very excited about the fact that actors of the league of Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Nana Patekar, Shakti Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav are coming together with Shreyas Talpade. “I am looking forward to their combined histrionics creating celluloid magic,” confesses the maker.
Tucking into pakoras, dhoklas and some hot pav bhaji, the entire unit is working with great enthusiasm in the lap of nature in the banks of a river, with all actors chilling out between in plastic chairs in the sugarcane fields, with Nana’s infectious laughter cutting through the air, as Priyan answers our query of Nana’s romantic lead with “the only person Nana can be romantic with me in this film is me. He is a director’s actor. He doesn’t need a woman.” Touche!
