What I see in the script is, I go with my impulse. If I like the story, if I like the characters and
what’s happening in the film, I just go with my impulse. There is nothing in particular as such
I can pinpoint that this is something I see in the film
I do films. I don’t really categorise them into
commercial and non-commercial films. Every
film is a commercial film because there is somebody’s money involved and somebody wants
to make some profit out of that film
I saw Malik, Fahad and that was brilliant and even
Today the both of us, Rajkummar Rao and me Himesh will talk about Hum Do Hamare Do.
Welcome to Pinkvilla Raj, its lovely having you here.
Thank you so much Himesh.
So, you know first question, now our hero will adopt
parents. How did you react when you first heard this concept?
It was Dinu’s idea. He sent me the teaser so I asked him what is this? So he said the teaser so
I got the point he was trying to say. So, I said that’s the plot line, you to adopt the parents.
We don’t really hear about the people adopting parents we often hear adopting kids. But this
one was unique; this one was different so I thought that it worked very well.
And when you were offered the script, what was your reaction like to the screenplay?
I really enjoyed it and when I got to know that these amazing actors would be in the film like
Paresh sir, Ratna ma’am, Kriti, Apar so I thought it would be so much fun because you know
I have been big fan of their work especially Paresh sir and Ratna Ma’am so just to get a
chance to work with them in a full-fledged film, I didn’t want to miss that opportunity.
Correct. And you know we have seen the trailer and through the trailer there are two parallel
romantic tracks running. One is yours and Kriti and one is Paresh sir and Ratna Ma’am.
Which one is your favourite? Which one are you inclined towards?
Absolutely, Paresh sir and Ratna ma’am.
And any reason for that?
Yeah, just seeing them performing. They are amazing.
Correct and this is your second film with Kriti after Bareilly Ki Barfi.
How has your, the journey of two of you been?
Its great, I think. I have seen Kriti growing so much as an actor from her first film till now
and I saw Mimi last and I was so highly touched by her performance and in this one also I
think she has really surpassed her last performances. So, its always fun to you know see
someone grow as an actor with every film which I also aspire to do every time with all my
characters. And we are good friends. We share a good rapport, its fun to work with friends.
You know you are slowly owning this space of quirky comedies which have high content.
What are the factors that you look into when you are selecting these subjects? In this space?
I don’t want to own any one particular genre. I want to do everything but thank you so much I
take it as a compliment. What I see in the script is, I go with my impulse. If I like the story, if
I like the characters and what’s happening in the film, I just go with my impulse. There is
nothing in particular as such I can pinpoint that this is something I see in the film. Its the
overall thing which matters, the whole script. In totality that
should touch me, that should excite me as an actor.
And you know if you look at your choices of script, it has gone commercial over the years in
terms of subject. What was the turning point? What was the triggering point that led to this
evolution of your script section? Like there is a fine balance of
course but you are doing a lot of films in commercial space as well.
I do films. I don’t really categorise them into
commercial and non-commercial films. Every
film is a commercial film because there is somebody’s money involved and somebody wants
to make some profit out of that film. So, every film is a commercial film for me. Like for me,
Newton did extremely well at the box office as well, so did Bareilly Ki Barfi. So, for me, I
know what you are trying to say I think that change happened with Bareilly Ki Barfi. When I
met Nitesh and he narrated me few scenes and I was like wow, this is such a fine part. You
know for me as an actor to play two different personalities in the same scene would be great
to explore and I just said, sir I would love to do this part and Nitesh sir we all know how
amazing he is and then I met Ashwini and I saw Nil Battey Sannata and I thought she is
amazing. And then of course Bareilly Ki Barfi happened and then Stree happened
And then it has been so many more after that.
And you know this is your third, I think fourth film with Dinu of which three have been
successful and got a lot of appreciation and now Hum Do Hamare do. How do you view the
journey of you and Dinu together over the 5-6 years?
It’s a great journey I think there is a mutual respect, there is a mutual trust that we have and it
started with Stree, you know when Raj DK they came to meet me with Stree. They narrated
me the story and I love the story. I said I would love to do it. And then Dinu of course, they
met Dinu and Dinu also came onboard, they were the producers and Raj DK were the writers.
The journey started from there and it’s been a very fruitful journey I think I have played some
really interesting parts with him. We did Made in China which didn’t do very well at the box
office but personally I really enjoyed playing that part, in playing a really hungry Gujarati businessman
And which of the four collaboration is the most special for you? Of the four films that you?
Stree, okay
And you just wrapped up shooting for Hit I believe in Jaipur
It’s still going on
How has that journey been? It’s an investigative thriller and you
know the original one is actually a very gripping film so
Yeah, no its going very, very well. Honestly, I was not really in the mind space to come and
do these interviews because you know you be in the zone for 30 days and you suddenly have
to cut out and do this but of course its part of the job so I have to but I am really, really
enjoying you know what we are doing with that script and Shailesh is a director to watch out
for. He is exceptionally talented so is Harshavardhan, my director for Badhaai Do.
Harshavardhan, Badhaai Do is again, I have seen the cut so I know I can say very proudly it’s
a phenomenal film. But talking about Hit yeah, it’s an investigative thriller. Lot of turns and
twists, it will keep you on the edge and having a great time working with the team
And I believe it has the potential of a franchise as well and if it happens, it could be a second
franchise for you after horror. Exciting times as an actor?
Yeah. Exciting time as an actor. Some good work happening, the kind of work I wanted to do
for a while now. I think this pandemic has taught me to just listen to my heart and do the kind
of work I believe in and I am trying to do that.
And you know there is another film of yours which is keenly awaited, we have spoken about
it multiple times that’s, Chupke Chupke. What’s happening with
that? Through last six months there has been
I have no idea honestly; you will have to ask the makers.
Okay and you know there is also Monica, O My Darling which is happening with Sriram’s
Production. Could you tell us something, how excited are you to jump into that space?
Very excited. We all love Sriram sir and Vasan is the director of this film, Vasan Bala. I have
known him for so many years now. Great guy to work with. Such a phenomenal maker
And the script itself, it was brilliant I read it for the first time and I loved to and I said I want
to do this film. I want to play this part and we ended up finishing by the time and we didn’t
even realise it was over. It was so quick and it was so much fun.
When you have fun on set, when you enjoy a film, it just goes by like this
And you know talking about Hum Do Hamare Do, it actually revolves around the concept of
adoption. Its basically the social message behind all the humour. Is that also a very important
factor when you come on board that you make people laugh but it also has a message?
If its there, its good. But there are no hard and fast rules that it should be there. Some films
are only made for entertainment, some films are
for entertainment and also to make you think
sometimes so Hum Do Hamare Do we tried or there to be a social message attached to it that
if we give people something to think by the time the film
finishes. We have tried to do that in this film, I hope we are successful in that.
And you know in the pandemic time, do you believe comedy during pandemic and the post
pandemic time that comedy is a genre that is going to flourish because you know people have
seen such tough times and it is films which is, films or OTT films or series which will provide them?
I can’t really say, honestly. Comedies have always worked most of the times if they are done
sensibly and done well. But you know Pataal Lok, Scam, they are not comedies. They are
dramas but they have done so well so you don’t really know what’s going to happen, what’s
going to work, what’s not going to work. I think if you make a good film or a good series it
will work. There is no rule as such that make because this will work. Nobody knows what works.
Through the pandemic you have had multiple releases which premiered on OTT and now
there is Hum Do Hamare Do also which is premiering on Hotstar. How do you view this
thing because you know in the start of pandemic we are, there were reports that you want
Chhalaang and all those films to premiere on theatre, I don’t know it was reported in the media?
I never said that
Okay. So how do you view this and your films have been
successful on OTT, be it Chhalaang, Ludo or so how do you view this thing?
Well, everybody wants their film to be watched and if theatres are not there you know in this
pandemic, then the producers especially, they can’t take that burden to just hold that film for
very, very long time. There are so many things attached to it. Its not only just make that film
and keep it you know in your office; you want people to watch the film. And other things
which you and me won’t be able to understand it, the business side of it. But yeah, I am very
glad it happened with Chhalaang and Ludo and The White Tiger. The kind of response I got,
we got for those films and those performances I am very, very happy that it happened. Ludo
came last Diwali and Hum Do Hamare Do is coming this Diwali so its great. I am very happy
that you know people are watching these films and it’s a huge, huge audience I think the
spectrum is huge for OTT platforms
Actually, this is your third Diwali release, even Chhalaang was last year Diwali with Ludo so
Yeah, yeah. Correct
And you know talking about OTT space, there have been OTT premiere but you have stayed
away from the web series so far. What’s keeping you away from that?
Nothing. Nothing. It’s not a conscious choice. I read couple of things; they didn’t really
maybe connect to it but if something exciting comes up I will jump on it. I am very open to
do a web series I think it’s a great format, its long format.
You get to explore so much as an actor.
And if there is one zone of cinema which we call that, you
enjoy doing the most, which space would that be for you?
I am still exploring. I don’t know I really enjoy everything. I enjoy
playing Alu as much as I enjoy playing Shahid
But is there any genre that you want to explore going forward?
I think you will be very good even in a slapstick comedy
Yeah, maybe, yeah. I would love to try that, haven’t done that
Because we saw some glimpses like in the climax of Stree when you suddenly start making,
that’s actually more in the, that situation was in the more slapstick zone
And what’s happening with Stree 2? Dinu has spoken about it that the journey will continue
with Bhediya and it will go into Stree. Have there been discussions with you over that?
Yeah, there have been discussion but I am sure it will
happen eventually I don’t know exactly when it will happen but it will happen soon
And you know during Roohi we were joking about how there will be a crossover between Roohi
and Stree as well and we will get to see two Rajkummar Rao’s in the film, anything on that front?
It’s a long-term plan so I can’t really comment right now if that’s going to happen and if that
is going to happen but Stree 2 is definitely is in process and that will certainly happen sometime soon.
And you have such a wide line up. You have so many films lined up. Which is the most
exciting one for you? Except Hum Do Hamare Do which is of course right now
Except Hum Do Hamare Do, I have Monica, I have Badhaai Do
and I have Hit, all three I am very, very excited about all three of them.
And talking about Badhaai Do, could you tell us something because you know first film won
a national award so of course the expectation will be huge. So, what do you have to say about that?
I think it will really meet your expectation or maybe it might surpass.
It’s phenomenal. It’s very, very good. I don’t really say this
about my own films but this one is very special.
And Raj you know we have a couple of questions from your fans who have asked questions
on Pinkvilla Rooms so, there are two questions. First one is from Viren Mehra. The question
is, if WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram were down for one
year and not one day. How would it affect your life?
It won’t affect my life.
You are not among the active users of WhatsApp, Instagram
Of course, I use. It’s not like I don’t use but my life doesn’t, its not dependent on these things.
And second question is from Shakha Singh. Which has been your personal favourite
Bollywood movie in the last few years not starring you?
I saw Malik, Fahad and that was brilliant and even
Thank you so much Raj. It was lovely talking to you. And wish you all the best for Hum Do Hamare Do.
Thanks a lot. Thank you