‘Tanu Weds Manu’ gave me new image: Deepak Dhobriyal

Mumbai, March 6 – He played ‘pappi’ in the film ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ and walked with accolades for his flawless comic timing. Actor Deepak Dhobriyal is now happy with his new image which is a far cry from his earlier serious roles.

‘The films I did so far like ‘Gulaal’, ‘Delhi 6′ and ‘Omkara’ cast a different image of me in the audience’s mind. People started taking me as a very serious person. That’s because they are not aware how fun-loving a person I am. I am happy that I could entertain people,’ Deepak told IANS.

Actor Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut played the lead roles in this romantic comedy.

‘This is my first film where after listening to the narration of my character from Himanshu (writer Himanshu Sharma) and Anand (director Anand Rai), I didn’t have to take a look at the script because their words got saved in my mind,’ said Deepak.

For him each script is a different world altogether.

‘Every film is a different world created by the writer and the director. I just try to be a part of it and the role takes its own flight. I only concentrate on what my lines are and what the character wants to portray. I don’t see whether the role is comedy or a serious one,’ said Deepak.

After ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ he is doing comic roles in ‘Mumbai Cutting’ and ‘Teen They Bhai’.

‘But given a choice I would always prefer doing a serious role,’ he said.

‘In a serious film, audience respects the content. There is always a thought; there is a socio-political subject. So, while doing a serious film, you shed your personal complexities and deal with something bigger than that,’ said Deepak.

‘Mumbai Cutting’ comprises 11 short films by 11 directors on the city.

‘I am doing Kundan’s (director Kundan Shah) film in ‘Mumbai Cutting’. It’s a silent film. It’s about an aspiring actor who has just arrived in Mumbai and his encounter with local trains. He comes to be the king of the film industry but misses eight trains; he is unable to board any of them. It’s a very funny film,’ said Deepak.

Giving a sneak preview of his other project, Deepak says, ‘In ‘Teen Thay Bhai’ I play the younger brother of Om Puri and Shreyash Talpade. The three brothers don’t see eye to eye. 

Then they have to spend two days together in a single room. It’s full comedy.’

Deepak believes small-budget serious films fail due to lack of proper publicity.

‘There is so much of stress in society that people prefer to see comedy. Serious films require strong content and right publicity. I have observed that there is always some lacuna in publicity of a serious film except a few like ‘Rang De Basanti’ or ‘3 idiots’ even ‘Laagan’,’ said Deepak.

Tanu Weds Manu get a respectable start at Box Office

After getting rave reviews the film Tanu Weds Manu had a satisfactory opening in North India on Friday morning. Though Friday was a working day, Tanu Weds Manu saw 40% to 50% of audience during the morning and the afternoon at several screens.

The response else where apart from North ranged to below average (20 % to 25%). It was predicted earlier that very much like family based films like Hum Saath Saath Hai, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, the film will also not have a thunderous start.

With the fantastic promotions for Tanu Weds Manu the film has the potential to grow with passing days. Both audiences feed backs and critics reviews are positive and will help the film to do a bigger and better business.

Madhavan's UP, Bihar steps at Jhalak Dikhala Jaa 4

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 4 recent episode turned out to be a desi one, in the presence of the Tanu Weds Manu star Madhavan. Television actress Mahi Vij who is also a contestant on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa did not miss the chance of dancing with the very handsome R Madhavan.

Madhavan was present on the show to promote his recent film Tanu Weds Manu, which also stars Kangana Ranaut opposite him. Mahi does not miss chances of dancing with her favourite stars. Earlier it was Akshay Kumar who was dragged onto the floor by Mahi and now it was the very shy Madhavan who rocked the dance floor with Mahi Vij.

Both of them danced on a full-on desi number, 'Main Aayi Hoon UP Bihar Loot Ne.' The song however totally suits the theme of the film which is totally desi and is set on the North India.

Don't forget to catch Madhavan on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 4 this week.

'Tanu Weds Manu' is an honest film: Anand

Director Anand L. Rai says that his " Tanu Weds Manu" is an honest film and portrays the world from the place he belongs - New Delhi.

"It's an honest film. You will feel you are one of them -- part of that love story and part of that humour. What I am very positive about the film is its honesty - and it will stay on," Rai told us.

"It's definitely from the world from where I come, the place where I belong, the roots where I started growing. Being a Delhiite I know the north Indian culture very well. When you are telling a story it should be portrayed in a right way, then it reaches everywhere. It's a fiction but it still remains a slice of life for me," he added.

The film released Friday.

The director didn't have any intention to build up a new on-screen pair but he was sure his lead cast Kangana and Madhavan would fit best for the characters Tanu and Manu.

"It was from the word go. I had to slog for it. It's a love story. It's a very Indian romantic comedy that I had to make and I have to see to it that I should make it the way, it gets delivered in the right way. First thing for that was a fearless right casting.

"I was very sure that the Manu character should be played by Madhavan and for Tanu, I was looking for someone who was hungry for this kind of character and has the potential to perform. Kangana had all the guts (to) take on all the challenges. She just broke her image, moved into this world and did it," said Rai.

He didn't write the script keeping them in mind though, said Rai.

"I was very honest to my characters. I was getting it right there, then I started thinking for it," said Rai.

Rai made his directorial debut with "Strangers" and then he made "Thodi Life Thoda Magic" (2008), which were duds and the director regrets that though his first film was appreciated by reviewers, it bombed because he didn't bother to connect his film with the audience.

"When I made 'Strangers' I got nice feedback for myself in terms of reviews but I was very selfish while making the film. I realized that I missed on to the major thing -- the connection with the audience, which was not there. When I made 'Tanu Weds Manu' it was just the audience I thought about," said Rai.

Rai hinted that his next movie would also be a love story.

"After 'Tanu Weds Manu' there is still a bigger chunk of this emotion lying in me. I would get rid of it in the coming one and then move on.

"I will spend little more time with 'Tanu Weds Manu'. I know the script of my next film, I know the region where it belongs, but I am in no rush," said Rai.