'Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal': Priyadarshan’s back

TOI brings you behind-the-scene moments of Priyadarshan’s next Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal
Actors on their characters
Nana Patekar on Sam: This is the first time that I have very few lines to speak in a film. Sam, my character, loves food. For him, mouth is an organ to just eat and not speak. He does not think twice before showing his muscle power. I am protective about Shreyas in the film.Also, unlike Om Puri and Paresh Rawal’s characters, Sam doesn’t have a love angle. In fact, Priyan kept teasing me, “Nana you don’t need a heroine. You have me.”
Om Puri on David: My role is far from a comic one. There are undercurrents of humour in my dialogues, but the character of David is not about so much about the lover and the husband as it is about the father. David is disappointed with his son (Shreyas Talpade) and has given up completely on him. I enjoyed my time both on and off the sets. Priyan always makes me feel special. There was a long wooden bench kept on the sets just for me, so that I could take a nap whenever I wanted. I was the only one allowed to sleep on it.
Paresh Rawal on Peter: I have never played such a character before. Peter is a rich man. The colourful shirts that he wears reflect his status. But, in truth, I am the villain of the show. I want to get back at David as I have lost my sweetheart to him. I am waiting to take revenge by making sure David son’s Johney can’t live without my daughter Maria. Once that happens, I tear her away from Johney.
Producer's note: Shailendra Singh
We were keen to make a film with Priyadarshan. Why Priyan? For me, Priyadarshan in Bollywood is like cricketer Sachin Tendulkar — consistent, versatile and even after 90 films to his credit, he has a fire burning within him. He narrated the script of KDM and the interesting casting that he had in mind. I was personally very excited about getting Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Priyadarshan together. It’s a bonanza for the audience. Also, in this era of spoofs, gags and item numbers, Priyadarshan presents an entertaining drama, which is surely a clean family entertainer. And though I did capture the progress of my baby, we felt honoured to have Priyan as the captain of our ship. I feel proud to say that this is our fifth film with Priyadarshan. But as a studio and a team, we are experiencing not only butterflies but eagles and spacecraft flying through our stomachs as the release of the film draws closer. But like any producer, I look for consumer success, creative success and financial success.
Shreyas and Madhhurima
Being friendly and sporting, Shreyas Talpade and Madhhurima got along like a house on fire. The two share their experiences of working with seasoned actors, Om Puri, Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar and award-winning director Priyadarshan and essaying the role of incurable romantics.
On Priyadarshan
Shreyas Talpade (S): Few know that Priyan is a very good actor himself. Before taking a shot, he would literally get into the skin of the character, explaining the moves and the expressions in detail. I was amazed to see that. At times when I tried to put my extra bit, he would say, “Shreyas, there is no need for it.”
Madhhurima (M): I remember giving my first shot, where I spoke my dialogues very quickly… practically hamming… just like the way I did in my Telugu films. Priyan told me to calm down and go about speaking my lines slowly and I realised how it brought about the desired effect. Priyan made us portray the characters like any normal couple liking each other.
On playing romantics
S: Johney has various shades to him. He is a coward. But also cunning and oversmart at times! He will do anything to marry Maria. I was reminded of Iqbal where I completely surrendered to my director. I did the same here. Priyan was very sure about what he wanted Johney to be like.
M: Maria is pretty close to what I am in real life. She is a brat and quite a bully and I have done this kind of bhaigiri with my friends during my teenage years. Priyan has captured our love angle in a comic yet beautiful way.
On working with veterans
S: Whether it was Om Puri, Paresh Rawal or Nana Patekar, they were like kids on the sets. In fact, Madhhurima and I felt like senior citizens. I cannot forget how Nana would just rustle up nashta for the cast and crew. From Omji, I learnt dialogue delivery. KDM is my first film with Paresh ji and what struck me about him was his spontaneity. No matter the number of takes, he could retain his expressions just the way he had done the first time.
M: I am glad that in my very first film I got a chance to work with all senior actors, including Shakti Kapoor and Asrani. I could not help but remember Asrani of Sholay and he took that as a compliment. Paresh use to speak to me in Telugu, while Nana made the most delicious mutton curry. It was a treat for me to work with all of them.
Dialogues from the film
Screenplay and dialogue writer Neeraj Vora, who plays the character of Pinto, a coffinmaker, shares some of hilarious lines from the film...
Johney (Shreyas), is a coward and does not like violence. People call him bakri. So, for him, this line came naturally to me — Gandhiji ne ahimsa ka rasta apnaya to woh bangaye mahatma aur main wahi kiya toh mein bakri.
There is a funny scene where David (Om Puri) is going to commit suicide. He says, “Main jaa raha hoon… koove mein kood ke apni jaan doonga.” Johney (Shreyas), his son, says, “Jaan lene ke liye koi chhaata leke jaata hai kya.”
There’s another funny line by Johney (Shreyas): “Mujhechurch ka ghanta samjha hai kya? Jo koi bhi aayega bajake jayega?”
There’s a scene where Sam (Nana Patekar) asks for chicken and I say, “Chicken abhi ande mein hai.Bahar nikal ke bada ho ga tab pakake denge.”
Trivia
Priyadarshan does not shoot beyond 9 at night no matter what. That is one of the reasons why Om Puri always likes working with him.
During a schedule, it came to light that Shreyas has sound knowledge of natural cures for skin ailments. In fact, he helped Madhhurima cure her skin rashes, which she had developed while shooting in the heat.
While travelling from Chandigarh to Jalandhar for the film, Shreyas’ car broke down, but he hitched a bike ride to reach the event.
Paresh Rawal was stressed about pulling off a dance number with Anjana Sukhani. But, choreographer Pony Verma put the actor’s fears to rest by singing the track, Chika Chika, herself and making him dance.
Rajpal Yadav’s loss became Neeraj Vora’s gain. Yadav, who has done most of Priyan’s comic capers, had to forego KDM because of a serious leg injury and Neeraj stepped into the role.
Nana Patekar was the chef on outdoors and would request people staying nearby if he could cook at their place. And in between shots, he would go on a scooter to check on the cooking himself.
The item song with Anjana Sukhani was completely Priyan’s idea, right from the look to the colour and design of her corset.
While shooting in Wai, Nana Patekar hurt his foot. The actor had an action sequence the next day, so, he woke up early next morning at five and climbed a nearby hill up and down to make sure he could do the scene.
Though Shakti Kapoor had given dates to the film, his character had not been fleshed out. Priyan then actually wove his part in the script and cast him.
Produced by Percept Pictures and directed by Priyadarshan, Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal releases September 28.