According to Priyadarshan, films don’t flop; budgets do, and this philosophy has been at the centre of everything he does.
When asked how he handles interference from producers or the tantrums of stars, he said: “I always put my foot down and say that this is the only way I want to do it.
The actors don’t have a problem with me. I have worked with everybody and I was very comfortable, even with actors like Govinda. I finished Bhagam Bhag in one schedule. I never had an issue, though I had heard that he doesn’t come on time or honour his dates.
It all depends on how you handle them, and the confidence you give them,” he added.
Priyadarshan is often credited with popularising the horror-comedy genre through his 2007 hit Bhool Bhulaiya, starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role. It spawned a franchise with Anees Bazmee taking over as director and Kartik Aaryan in the lead.
“It feels good that the story carries on. Manjulika (Vidya Balan’s character from Bhool Bhulaiya) still lives on in Bhool Bhulaiya two and three. I just started the genre; the rest of the people carried it forward very well. When you do something good for the industry and your attempt is taken forward by others, you feel good,” he said.
Bhoot Bangla reunites Priyadarshan with some of his favourite stars, including Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, and the late Asrani in his last screen appearance.
It is the director’s first Hindi film since 2021’s Hungama 2.
“When one is working in multiple languages, such gaps are natural. I was not getting the right script to start again here, so when this came along, I was very happy. As you said, my two most favourite actors – Akshay and Tabu – are back in the film,” he said.
The film has an exciting plot and will appeal to audiences, he added. It releases in theatres on 10 April and is produced by Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures and Kumar’s Cape of Good Films.
