Neeraj Pathak's directorial Bhaiaji Superhit, starring Sunny Deol, Arshad Warsi and Preity Zinta clocks 6 years today. Deol’s character Bhaiaji is a gangster from Varanasi, who appears to fear no one but his gun-toting wife played by Preity Zinta. Arshad Warsi plays the director of a film, in which Bhaiaji is cast, with Shreyas Talpade as the writer.
On film's anniversary, filmmaker Neeraj Pathak talked about Sunny Deol's hilarious portrayal of a UP don and how the film reached a larger audience once it released on OTT.
What are your thoughts on Bhaiaji Superhit?
I like my work in Bhaiji Superhit. It had a very well-assembled cast and a very good script. It took a while to be made. Because of this, it couldn’t reach the audience in a completed form.
And still, you remember the film fondly?
Ye,s I have a lot of fond memories of it, especially of Sunny Deol and Arshad Warsi.They were wonderful together. And the chemistry of Amisha Patel and Preity Zinta with Sunny Deol.
For once Sunny was not weightlifting?
Sunnyji was seen in a very strong comic role, and that too in a double role that was hilarious. I had fun making the film and I feel that Sunnyji came out of his comfort zone and played the role of a UP don very well.
Sunny and you had worked together earlier?
That’s right. Sunnyji and I have a working relationship of many years, we trust each other implicitly. He is like an elder brother and we have always tried something new together. I remember your review of my movie with Sunnyji and Irrfan Right Or Wrong. You gave it such a wonderful review. I think Right Or Wrong with Sunnyji was ahead of its times.Then came Bhaiaji Superhit .By that time we were like family. I wrote my film with him in mind. I believe if you have a warm relationship with the actors then work with them becomes fun and magical.
So making Bhaiaji Superhit was a magical experience?
Oh yes! Arshad and Sunny were rocking in the film. And Shreyas Talpade was so good in the movie as a Bengali writer Tarun Porno Ghosh (yes attribute to the great Rituporno). Pankaj Tripathi and Jaideep Ahlawat who are ruling their respective markets, were the main villains. So you see, I was lucky enough to have such a wonderful cast with me and I tried my best to make a good movie.
Sadly it didn’t do well?
With time it reached its audience because of tv. This film reached a large audience through OTT and till now I get calls that the picture is very enjoyable and funny.