Action or comedy, Mr Shetty’s ready!

Suniel Shetty is ready to carry on from where he left off in the film Hera Pheri. We’re talking about the comedy bit. And why not? After all, Suniel has Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal (both of whom featured in Hera Pheri) to keep him company in the film Awara Paagal Deewana (APD). What’s more, even producer Firoz Nadiadwala thinks along the same lines.There’s a twist in the tale though. Replacing Priyadarshan (Hera Pheri) as director for APD is Vikram Bhatt.
As a result, Suniel doesn’t carry forward the role of Hera Pheri’s bhola bhala Shyam, but plays a small-time goonda — Yeda Anna — while juxtaposing his flair for comedy with brawn power. So, when Yeda Anna, who has the habit of forgetting things, has Johnny Lever (Chhota Chattri, a guy who stammers) as his side-kick and is joined by hen-pecked husband Paresh Rawal (Manilal), who tends to mix up names, you have comedy spilling out of every scene in APD. ‘‘I enjoy comedies,’’ says Suniel, ‘‘Specially when Paresh Rawal is around. He is too good as an actor and his timing his perfect. APD is meant for those who want to have three hours of uninterrupted fun.’’
Point taken, topic changed. After all, when Suniel is around, it’s difficult not to let him throw a punch or two. In the stills of APD, the macho man is seen battling a giant of a hunk. ‘‘Oh boy, he was huge! He was flown down from England specially for a fight sequence.’’ With Kaante lined up as his next, says Suniel Shetty’s hands are full. Not that he minds. Where there are kaantes aka thorns, there are roses too, remember?
pankaj.kapoor2000@indiatimes.com