Comedy is not my genre, says Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who made a departure from his usual intense cinema, to try hands at comedy with his latest release My Friend Pinto, says he would not have been able to do justice to the film had he directed it, as its not his forte.

Bhansali's new offering as a producer, is directed by his assistant Raghav Dhar and stars Prateik Babbar and Kalki Koechlin in lead roles.

"There is new talent, new way of looking at cinema, new genre of cinema. If it was something that I would have to make then I don't think I could have done it better.. because it is something I can't make. I am not comfortable making it and so I have produce it. I am happy about it. We all have a genre... it is not like I can't make it. I can also get up one day and make something like this similar. But at the end of the day, it is not my genre," Bhansali told PTI in an interview.

"Somebody thinks like that, somebody creates characters like that which is perfect for the genre. Like looking at the humorous side of a don or a taxi man on the road…all these characters make or show funny side. That perspective of looking at these characters comes naturally to the writer. This kind of cinema is not natural to me. I would not have been able to create it as well as it is done," he said.

Bhansali, who in the past have dealt with dark and intense subjects in his most of his films right from Khamoshi to Black to 'Guzaarish' has moved into the comedy zone, but as a producer.

My Friend Pinto is a light-hearted comedy. It is very young, full of life, full of colors...new characters...these characters have never come in my films. Ever since I heard the screenplay I was completely inspired...it brought so much smile and hope to me. Its all about a friend who we all have but we do not take the friend seriously. We need to respect, love, care and thank a friend. We forget our friends as we move on in our lives, he said.

"And any screenplay that makes you think alongwith making you smile and entertain you then I feel there is something right about it and so I thought of producing it," he added.

My Friend Pinto is about the travails of Michael Pinto (Prateik Babbar) in a new city. Although he wants to do good to others but he is often misunderstood.

The film hits the screens today.