In this fantastic interview, director Mudassar Aziz speaks with Subhash K Jha about formulating the unique language of comedy in his brilliant Mere Husband Ki Biwi, which stars Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Bhumi Pednekar. Plus, so much more!
Mere Husband Ki Biwi takes you down the rib-tickling route again. How difficult is comedy?
It’s always very, very tricky to try the rib-tickling route, sir. Humour is a very personally varied emotion. Comedies rarely bring its makers their due credit, but I stick to it to see smiles on faces perhaps!
Your Pati Patni Aur Woh was also a love triangle. Are you fascinated by that format?
I’ve never really thought that a triangle fascinates me. It’s just that the complicated nature or love and marital relationships in our fast changing world, makes me want to explore humour in its layers.
These are dark times. Do you feel laughter is the best antidote?
I agree with you 100%, Sir. The times are dark, emotionally stirring, and even polarised the world over. I wish laughter would be the “cure” but I’ll live with calling it the medicine also.
Audiences have begun to stay away from movie theatres. Does that scare you?
Yes, sir. It scares me. And it scares me on two levels. Firstly, why has the audience disassociated with us to such an extent? Have we become too snooty? Have our actors been promoting Hindi Cinema in English for far too long, almost distancing our masses? Or is the overexposure of stars on social media leaving no mystery? The questions are worrisome. Secondly, sir, why has this trend of marketing your figures instead of your content become such an obsession with our industry since 2010? Producers are responsible for making figures become the audience chatter before they choose their weekend film. It’s our fault, not our audience’s.
This is your second film with Bhumi Pednekar. How much has she evolved since Pati Patni Aur Woh?
Bhumi is special. A gifted actress and a hard-working human being. With her knack for languages and dialects, it’s only obvious for a linguist like me to want to work with her. She has grown in her craft and she now has learned the fine art of subtle manipulation with each character.
Who are your role models as filmmakers?
I’m just a Hrishi Da( Mukherjee), Basu Da (Chatterjee), and Raj Kapoor Sahab fanboy, sir. The humour comes from the first two. The love for women from the third. I will stay in their territory as it makes me happy.
Where and how did that lovely array of veteran actors come into Mere Husband Ki Biwi?
Sir, I wanted to tick some off my list, as life sometimes steals the chance. Tiku Talsania Ji, Shakti Kapoor Sir, and Mukesh Rishi Ji have been responsible for many laughs in my childhood. When I was 6-7, I believed that Anita Raj Ji was too beautiful to be true. After losing two years to the pandemic, I still kick myself for not writing something fast enough for Chintu Ji, Satish Ji, and Neeraj Vora. So now I just go for it.
The Chhaava factor loomed large over your film?
Sir “Mera Paigham Mohabbat Hai, Jahan Tak pahunche (My message is love, wherever it reaches)!” What the film does in the presence or absence of Chhaava isn’t in my control. To put my best foot forward to entertain people is the only thing that is in my control. I will always appeal to my families, my women crowd, and my humour lovers, and I will leave the rest to the Almighty.
What next?
More fun and more relationships are next, sir
