Rajkumar Santoshi On 20 Years of Andaz Apna Apna

What would the desi version of Tom ‘n’ Jerry be called? Andaaz Apna Apna. Yes, we cooked that up, but you’d agree with us, we are sure. The film had some brilliant comic timing, amazing actors, absolutely hilarious lines and madcap antics. As this film, which has become a cult phenomenon over the years, completes 20 years of its release, we get talking to the man who helmed the project – Rajkumar Santoshi. While we can only imagine what fun it must have been to shoot the film, Santoshi says it was an “absolute laugh riot even on the sets”.

 “The dialogues and acts were so hilarious ki khud cameraman bhi hastey hastey gir jata tha. Then, we would have to cut the shot and do re-takes. Then, both Aamir Khan and Salman Khan reaction dene ki jagah hasney lagtey the,” says Santoshi adding that he would give cues to the actors himself and “the scene where Salman is seen rushing to the washroom, jo uske pet se awaz ati hai wo maine apne muh se nikali hai,” laughs he.

 And we also quiz him on the reported cold vibes that the two Khans shared on the sets, and he dismissed them saying, “It was being reported that they had some problem with each other, but I didn’t feel there was any such thing. Everybody would just laugh on teh sets and that helped everyone open up and get along.”

 And if you think you are the only one who laughs out loud everytime you think about the movie, you have some august company. “Whenever Aamir and I or Salman and I meet, we still discuss the film,” says Santoshi, confessing that there is a lot of pressure on him to make a sequel of the film, “They (Salman and Aamir) say banatey hain na sequel. They have shown keen interest in the film. Jahan jata hun people say sequel banao. There are a lot of expectations and is a lot of demand for it.”

Source: mid-day.com

Well, if the audience want it, the stars want it and the directors want it, what’s stopping? “I am not a person who makes sequels or franchise just to lap up the money, ki pehli hit hogayi hai toh chalo sequel announce kar do, paise ikkatha kar ke baith jao. I don’t want to cash on the success of the first. I am writing the script, there are a few ideas, let’s see what works. Once I am satisfied, I’d surely announce it,” he assures and promises that the sequel will have many impressive performances of the original. “I’d like to connect the two stories and Aamir, Salman would be there, and it’ll also have Parseh (Rawal, actor), Shakti (Kapoor, actor), Viju (Khote, actor), Karisma (Kapoor, actor), Raveena (Tandon, actor) ... they’ll all show up.”

From the director of the film which has been universally acknowledged as a favourite, we ask what is it that the comedy films of today lack to be able to make the cut. “I am no one to judge others, but I do feel that some films have forced comedy, and too many double meaning dialogues. Some are making vulgar films in the name of comedy, “ says the director, who himself loves comdis such as Padosan (1968), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983) and Half Ticket (1962). Interestingly, the film which has terrific recall value across generations did just about alright at the box office when it was released in 1994. Santoshi explains, “It wasn’t a washout, it went unnoticed. When it was released, we couldn’t create much awareness about the film, as we were all busy shooting other projects. Jitna publicity ab hota hai,aur jo marketing budget ab hai, wo tab hota toh film jaroor blockbuster hoti.”  

Article credits: Medha Dahiya, HT City