Exclusive! Dharmesh Vyas: 'RIP' is based on a real incident that happened in Gujarat

Dharmesh Vyas is a renowned actor and director in Gujarati cinema. He has carved a niche in the entertainment industry by contributing his talent to cinemas for years now. Once again, Vyas is in the mood to entertain his fans and followers with his upcoming ventures, it seems like the actor is not going to take any break as he is continuously busy with his shoots.After the wrap of 'Rahasyam', Dharmesh has another comedy flick 'RIP' in his pocket. Well! In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, here's what Dharmesh has to share about the film 'RIP'.
The poster looks hilarious and your expression steals the limelight, as a creative head what came into your mind while making such a hilarious poster?
The poster indeed is very hilarious. The backstory behind the idea is that the person in the poster is a man of value but he is a funny person. The person is tested Covid positive and is admitted to the hospital. This is a real incident that happened in Gujarat. The person is declared dead after 12 days and as per Government rules, the death certificate is issued to the family. But things take a U-turn when that information turns Kaput and the person is alive. The second half of the story is approached in a very sensitive manner but there is humor ticking in to keep the audience engaged as it’s a socio-comedy film. I only finalized the poster, we were discussing that there will be a flat or poker face on the poster but I had something else in mind owing to which I posed cutely and hilariously. Touchwood, the poster has received immense response from the people. I am very happy.
Well, 'RIP' and its full form 'Ramnik in Problem' is such a unique title. How this idea was discovered?
Hemin Trivedi, the writer gave me the one line and we developed it together. Well, the credit must go to Hemin, he is a wonderful writer. As per the credit for the title, Ojas Rawal came up with RIP. While we were on the sets of Rahasyam. Post which we discussed and we thought RIP- Rest in Peace is a bit negative so we came up with the name Ramnik for the character and finalized Ramnik in Peace. But as given the story, Ramnik faces the problem of proving his existence, the final title was termed ‘Ramnik in Problem’, but Ojas initial idea worked as a stepping stone for the title ideation process.
You have played various characters that are distinct from one other, is your character in the film unique as well?
Well people have seen me essaying stylized and negative characters so this is a bit odd yet refreshing character to play. I am playing a simple, middle-class man. Everyone was questioning me from the team – director, producer, writer, and Dhwani Gautam... that Sir, are you going to keep this look for the film, and I said yes. I want to play this in this particular manner.
How was the experience working on a film which is directed by two directors?
Yash and Amit are promising talents. They have great tuning as a team. Amit sets the frame and composition while Yash takes the baton forward from there to provide the finishing touch to the shot's perfection. The way Amit designs the shot, Yash supports him with ideation and input with detailing, and of course, I am there as creative. The teamwork is visible and it’s a great feeling to work with them as we are doing back to back films with the same team.
A lullaby by Rahul Munjariya is sung by the actors themselves, how was this new experience?
Hemin suggested to me that when Ramnik is proving his identity in the second half we should have a song. I went back home. I sat with my wife Surbhi, mulling over the same thought and I came up with the idea of putting a lullaby in the film. Thanks to Homi Wadia, my music sense has been grafted. I proposed the idea to the team and everyone was wondering because they felt lullaby is contextual. It did take some convincing as I told them that this will be played in the entire film time and again. Rahul Munjariya has written the song and the tune which he has composed is winning hearts across Saurashtra everyone is loving and praising it. I am pleased to say that this has already become the ringtones of many. I visited every character that you have to sing the lullaby. I am working for the first time with Maulik, and I asked him to croon the lullaby and he nailed it. Maulik has a very good voice. I even asked the other character Triju and he performed too. Thus it became concrete with Rahul and everyone that every character must sing, this will have a different impact. The lullaby is the USP of Ramnik in Problem. Everyone is going to love this film, it has an emotional appeal to it and the satirical theme will win everybody's hearts. I am very confident about the film and the way it has been shot and visualized rest are in the hands of the audiences.