“I Hate Shooting Comedies”: Director Priyadarshan Returns to Serious Cinema with ‘Haiwaan’
After decades of defining the landscape of Hindi cinematic humor, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan is making a conscious pivot back to his roots. With his upcoming psycho-thriller Haiwaan, the director is trading in the laugh-out-loud gags that characterized much of his career for a darker, more intense narrative.
The highly anticipated project, which serves as a remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film Oppam, reunites Bollywood icons Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan on the big screen for the first time in 18 years.
A Career Defined by an Unexpected Turn
While Priyadarshan is now synonymous with the comedy genre, his entry into Hindi cinema was marked by gritty, emotional storytelling. His early directorial efforts in Bollywood, such as Muskurahat, the critically acclaimed Gardish, and the powerful drama Virasat, firmly established him as a master of serious cinema.
However, the massive, unexpected success of the 2000 cult classic Hera Pheri fundamentally altered his professional trajectory. “I started with serious films. Gardish worked for me, Virasat worked for me. Then Hera Pheri made my life miserable. After that, it was just comedy, comedy, and comedy. To be honest, I hate shooting comedies,” the director candidly admitted in a recent interview.
Between 2001 and 2021, Priyadarshan helmed 20 Hindi films, 16 of which were comedies. Even his recent projects, like the horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, maintained that trend. Yet, the director feels the weight of that pigeonholing, stating, “When you make so many films in the same genre, you need a change. A lot of directors have a signature. But I don’t want that. That’s why I tried Haiwaan, because I really enjoy making serious films.”
Crafting Humor Through Situation, Not Gags
Priyadarshan clarifies that his aversion to comedy stems from a dislike of forced “gags” and “comedy tracks.” He views his past contributions to the genre through a different lens, preferring situational humor where characters remain grounded in reality.
“I try situational humour. I don’t put gags and comedy tracks,” he explained. “Even in comedies, I believe all my characters are serious, but people find what happens to them humorous. I don’t like actors making faces.”
The Tension of ‘Haiwaan’
The trailer for Haiwaan promises a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, featuring a tense psychological clash between a dangerous psychopath and a visually impaired protagonist. To heighten the atmospheric dread, the film features the evocative track “Rangiyara,” composed by Pritam with lyrics by Yatindra Mishra and Thomson Andrews, and vocals by Shaan, Sukhwinder Singh, and Romy.
As fans eagerly await this return to serious cinema from one of India’s most versatile directors, the stage is set for a gripping cinematic experience. Haiwaan is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on September 11.
