Sunny Deol told me to ask for the moon: Sangeeth Sivan

Director Sangeeth Sivan’s Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 hits theatres today and with Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby in the lead, the sequel gets bigger than before.
Sangeeth Sivan has films like Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, Apna Sapna Money Money and Ek: The Power of One to his credit. Taking over the original (Yamla, Pagla Deewana directed by Samir Karnik) has been a challenge but also an exciting journey.The director says, “When you’re offered something that’s not your property, your responsibility becomes more. I sat with the writer and we came up with the story after a month and half. I was carrying the baggage of the first film and in YPD2, the Deols’ characters are more cosmo, urban and restrained. I had to make them better than the first”.
Also working with the three Deols has been an experience of a life time. “All three had to be handled differently. Dharam ji is a legend so it became more difficult. He’s impromptu so it was challenge for me to get what I wanted. Language was also a problem. He’s Punjabi and I’m from Kerala so there was a communication problem. I eventually started understanding him. He surprises you with the zeal and dedication he has at his age, if we had half of that, it would be great. We left nothing to chance, we all knew what we had to do. All three are very punctual and there’s good fun when the three get together. The energy creeps in. When Dharam ji is around, everyone is on their toes. As for Sunny, he’s the best producer. He told me to ask for the moon and no one has said that to me before. He gave me full freedom to do what I wanted”.