Paresh Rawal feels item song was not required in his film

Making debut as a producer with Oh My God, actor Paresh Rawal says item number 'Go Govinda' featuring Sonakshi Sinha was not required in the film.

"No, it (the song) was not required. The call is taken by marketing team and somewhere I agree to it, agree to their experience of so many years, so it is fine," Paresh told PTI, when asked if he is personally in favour of item songs and if this song was necessary in the movie.

Oh My God is based on Umesh Shukla's Gujarati play Kanji Viruddh Kanji and has Akshay Kumar in the lead along with Paresh, who has co-produced the film.

For the first time, actress Sonakshi Sinha has done an item number Go Go Govinda, a Janmashtami song, with choreographer-director Prabhu Deva in the film.

"The song will bring in crowds, it is an added attraction. It helps in running the film. If that was not the case, why would someone spend crores on it," he said.

Earlier, Akshay Kumar had said people could call this a marketing gimmick. "It can be a marketing gimmick. We requested Prabhu Deva and Sonakshi to do it and they agreed," Akshay had said.

Sonakshi and Akshay have teamed up thrice as a couple on screen including Rowdy Rathore, Joker and in forthcoming film Once Upon A Time in Mumbai 2.

"I have not selected Sonakshi, Akshay has taken the call. They are close as they have worked together in many films. When you are working in a team you have to go by majority," Paresh said.

On if given a choice, would he go for this kind of a song, Paresh instantly said, "No."

Though Paresh doesn't believe much in promotions, but says being the producer of the film, he is doing it.

"We are marketing the film aggressively. Somewhere I fail to understand this strategy of going to reality shows, visiting cities, going to malls. As a producer I am committed to doing it, but this way of marketing is wrong," Paresh said.

"Going to malls, waving hands to the crowd will not translate into box office sales as there are people over there to make fun of stars. Even when you go to a reality show you are made fun of, but in good spirit. Your value and dignity becomes less. Personally I find it all unnecessary," he said.

If the content of the film is good, it will definitely do well whatsoever, he insists.

"Promotions are happening because of paranoia, not because of strategy or campaign. The audience is not a fool, they see through you. Ultimately the film speaks for itself. Movies like Barfi!, Kahaani work on word-of-mouth publicity," he said.

Paresh, who has tickled the funny bone of the audience with his performances in films like Judaai, Hera Pheri, Hungama, Hulchul, Golmaal, Welcome, is now set to entertain the audience with 'divine comedy' film Oh My God.

The film is about an atheist who incurs huge loses when his antique shop is destroyed by an earthquake. Paresh plays the role of the atheist while Akshay portrays Lord Krishna.

"My partner told me a film can be made from this play. Then we met Akshay, he saw the play, loved it and agreed to come on board. Though people would be aware of the story, but they will be in for a surprise when they see the new interpretations and new actors," Paresh said.

"We have an additional goodwill of the play, which has been performed over 400 times in Gujarati and more than 150 times in Hindi. It is running in Marathi also. It is a plus point for us," he said.

Produced jointly by Akshay Kumar and Ashvini Yardi's home production company Grazing Goat Pictures and Paresh Rawal, the film will hit the screens on September 28. PTI KKP GK PTP 09251413 NNNN