Interview: Arshad Warsi
By: Kiran Ayodhya
Veteran Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi loves to make audiences laugh, as evidenced by his role as Circuit in the Munnabhai series. Now that he has added “Producer” to his list of creative responsibilities, his desire to bring laughter to his audiences still rings true, but now Warsi is doing it through different means and genres.
In this weekend’s release of Hum Tum Aur Ghost, Warsi wears his producer and actor hats to tickle the collective funny bones of moviegoers this weekend, but in the most non-traditional of ways.
“People have seen me doing enough comedy,” Warshi told the press. “Hum Tum Aur Ghost is a complete-package film with awesome romance, emotion, drama, tragedy and, above all, comedy too, so people won’t miss my comic side. It’s not a horror film; it’s a romantic comedy, though it does have the element of ghost in it, but it’s not at all scary.”
In producing Hum Tum Aur Ghost, Warsi definitely wanted to avoid terrorizing moviegoers with blood-curling horror, instead making his film safe for viewing despite its supernatural themes.
“I didn’t want people to get scared. I want to remove this notion that ghosts are always scary, have a weird appearance, etc.,” Warsi stated in a recent promotional interview. “I want to change this psychology from kids’ minds. The ghost in my film is normal, has no special powers. He doesn’t even look frightening. In fact, he is as normal as he was before death; he’s benevolent, a good soul, just like an angel always helping others.”
Just like the characteristics of the film’s ghost, Warsi believes Hum Tum Aur Ghost is benevolent and angelic.
“It’s a very sweet and warm film. Apart from the ghost thing, you will see romance, power of true love, moral values that people will take home of selflessly helping out others, undying love, etc.,” Warsi told the press. “It will touch the emotional chords of the audience and get into their systems.”
As for his first stint as a producer, Warsi confessed that as hard as it was for him to fulfill his responsibilities during the production of Hum Tum Aur Ghost, it was an experience he truly enjoyed.
“It feels great! To be very frank … it’s a very, very hectic and tough job, but at the same time, I (love) every aspect of being a producer,” Warsi warmly told the press. “The very fact that the entire film is under your control, you can shape the film the way you want; it keeps you going (and it) always keeps you on your toes.”
As Hum Tum Aur Ghost hit screens this weekend, Warsi hopes the warm romantic comedy keeps its audience going with wholesome laughs and warm entertainment. If that is the vibe audiences indeed achieve, perhaps Warsi has handled his new responsibilities as a movie-shaping producer quite well.
