Don't be afraid of cracking lame jokes: Riteish Deshmukh

It’s always fun chatting with Riteish Deshmukh. His droll, witty sense of humour always pops up in the unlikeliest of conversations often leaving one rolling in laughter. It’s apt that the actor would be in some of the funniest comedies today. As I catch up with him ahead his next release, Housefull 3, what else but humour can underline our chat...

So, who are you...

The day I know that I will let you know (smiles politely).

Ok, let me be more specific. Who do you play in Housefull 3?

It’s a film where Akshay, Abhishek and I are in it more for the love of money and less for the ladies in love. I play a blind man, who is not actually blind but we are all faking our conditions to stay in the house. We get caught and the situations keep building up till it just gets chaotic. The directors Sajid-Farhad have a very punchy sense of humour and that will keep the audience engaged.

Where does your sense of humour come from?

Humour lies in every situation… It’s just how you can bring it out. I have got it from my father (Vilasrao Deshmukh). I think it’s all about the context you are talking in and how quick you are. Sometimes, you surprise yourself at the way you find humour in a completely dull situation. But it should be natural and you shouldn’t be afraid of cracking lame jokes. Humour keeps your mind ticking. Abhishek and Akshay are very humorous, with both having a different sense of humour — enough to learn from.

Does your wife Genelia think you're a funny guy?

Yes, of course! I cracked a big joke when I proposed to her and she fell for it (we both laugh).

On a more serious note, which film is more challenging to do — the negative role in Ek Villain or Housefull 3?

While I enjoyed doing both, Ek Villain might have an edge because I don’t do those roles often. It was a one-off, so it comes as a surprise. So when people see me in slapstick comedies, they are like 'Wow! He can do this too'. I am glad that I get roles in both. But it’s important too that serious films should be successful. I was fortunate that some of my films like Rann, Lai Bhaari and Ek Villain did well at the box-office. Unfortunately, all serious films don’t work.

Please continue...

As far as challenging roles are concerned, it depends on the scenes. A scene in Ek Villain may drain me emotionally, but a comic scene in Housefull 3 may drain me out physically. People feel comedies are easy to do. They are, but when the jokes are well written. When the material is weak, one is trying so hard to be funny and trying to be heard. The audiences say that whatever you are showing us, do your homework well. It’s just the timing and one has to constantly upgrade oneself with the things, especially the humour around us. Everything around us is happening so fast.

So how do you keep up with what’s happening around you?

I read 12 papers every day. I got this habit from my father who used to read 20 papers every day. After he finished reading them, I would read them. I like to go through the headlines and then some of the articles. I figure out what’s happening and I read on every subject, not just politics. I read from pages 1 to 16 and the supplements, I may or may not read. It takes 45 minutes for me to go through all the papers. I have all papers at home and in my van, if I am shooting. If I don’t manage to read them at home in the morning, I catch up on the set. If I leave early morning for travel, I catch up on the news on Twitter and social media, which makes it easy. Reading papers is amazing. Newspapers are a must and can never be completely replaced by digital media.

On the work front, what’s next?

Great Grand Masti, Banjo and Bank Chor and then, my Marathi home production Mauli and the biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Apparently, Nargis left you in the lurch with Banjo as there were some scenes still to be shot?

Nargis was never supposed to be here. And excuse me, she didn’t leave me or anybody or anything in the lurch. Her shoot is happening in New York where it was always supposed to. The Mumbai schedule with Nargis is complete. Now, the summer schedule is left which she will shoot in June in NY. It’s unfair of you to say that she’s left us in the lurch. Nargis has been a wonderful girl to work with, she is lovely with a great sense of humour.

Why is Bank Chor taking so much time to release?

Bank Chor should release in the third quarter of this year. As far as the delay is concerned, I think you should ask the production house (YRF) that as they have charted out how to go about its release. First Fan released and will be followed by Sultan on Eid.

Is the hairstyle you're sporting now for one of your Marathi films?

It’s not for any film. I call it my summer look. When I am not shooting I love experimenting with my hair. After I finished shooting Banjo, I don’t shoot till August. So one day, I just cut my hair with a razor and buzzed it off. And I am very happy with the look.

Speaking of Marathi cinema, what do you make of the success of Sairat?

The success of Sairat is of immense pride for everyone and all kinds of regional cinema. It marks the coming-of-age of Marathi cinema and if it sustains, remains as strong over the next three-four years and maintains the momentum for this kind of commercial ratio, then that day is not too far when we become as big as Tamil or Telugu cinema.

Have you thought of producing a film with Genelia and you?

I would love to do a Marathi film with Genelia. I have not produced a Bollywood one yet, as I am still understanding the production market. Genelia is choosy, too, while selecting her films. Fortunately, all the films we did were hits. But I would like to do one Marathi film with her. She has done films in five languages, including Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, but not a single Marathi film though she can speak the language fluently. All we need now is a good script.

Recently Kamaal R Khan did a poll on Twitter, on who is a bigger star today, where he said he was sad that Abhishek and you defeated him by a lesser percentage of votes. You told him that next time, you would be the first person voting for him. You were friends with KRK. What changed?

I think people are reading too much into it. KRK is a colleague and friend. He had an opinion to make, which is okay. I don’t understand why people get upset with trolls. It’s a social space and it’s perfectly okay for everyone to express their opinions. One needs to respect that and move on. I don’t react to trolls, though I might choose to react in a different way, with good humour. I just feel there is no point in reacting.

You will be becoming a father again…

It’s something I would rather not talk much about. Yes, it’s exciting. The first time around, there was a sense of completion.

You fought with your close friend and director Milap Zaveri during Mastizaade. Have you patched up with him?

(Cold silence) Patched up? (Pause) I don’t think anyone’s interested about whether we have patched up or not.
But still…
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