Satish Kaushik's Mallika Sherawat starrer 'Shaadi Se Pehle', produced by Subhash Ghai, is due for release. Plus he has a couple of other films as well. In an interview with TWF correspondent Vickey Lalwani, Kaushik reveals all.

Q: How did 'Shaadi Se Pehle' happen?
A: Ghai bounced off the idea, then Sanjay Chhel came in for the script, and everything started falling in place. It was high time I kept up Ghai's faith in me.

And he was offering me comedy, which I got very charged about. Isn't it strange that despite doing so many comic roles, I haven't directed a full length comedy yet?

Q: Go on...
A: Here, the entire comedy aspect revolves on the characters and that is what is exciting.

When I first heard the story of a boy who's highly confused and ends up getting himself caught under the trap of imaginative problems like he thinks he is sick when he is actually not, he thinks he has pain in his body when he is actually totally fit, etc clicked with me almost instantly.

Q: Your bonding with Subhash Ghai is talk of town. What's the secret?
A: There's no secret as such. It's always an overwhelming compliment when a great banner approaches you to work with them. It was the same in my case. Incidentally, I was the first director to be signed by Mukta Arts and it was an overwhelming experience for me as a director.

Q: But you were supposed to direct for Ghai long back?
A: Subhash Ghai wanted me to direct for a long time. In fact, he had bounced it off to me when I was shooting for his 'Ram Lakhan'. He said that when he needs an outside director, I would be the first one he would call. But somehow it took some time.

Sometimes we had the script, but the cast didn't fall in place. We had zeroed down on a film called 'Majnu', with Aishwarya Rai and Arjun Rampal, but could not make much headway into the script for the second half of the film.

Q: How did you do the casting?
A: Luckily, we got all the first choices we had in mind. The hero is a hypochondriac, and we wanted Akshaye Khanna because he has a lot of vulnerability in his face.

Who better than Ayesha Takia if you want a bubbly girl next door with a great smile? And can you beat Mallika Sherawat if you need someone to play a diva, an international model who has her own definition on relationships?

Q: Was Mallika Sherawat a problem?
A: She had reservations about doing a two-heroine project, but ultimately we narrated the whole script to her and she was convinced. I can handle heroines. I have worked with Tabu, Ameesha, Kareena, Shilpa, Sonali, and Ash.

At the end of the day, I have enjoyed working with her. For a 7 am shoot, she would report on the dot; that means she used to get up at 5 am and start doing her make-up.

Q: Go on...
A: I personally think this film will open a new chapter in the actor's reel life by removing the sex symbol tag from her name. She is playing a super model in the film and has a very chic look in it. Nothing sleazy. She is very pleased with the way I handled her character in the film and keeps telling me that it's her first film with a 'U' Certificate.

Q: So will 'Shaddi Se Pehle' go with the audience?
A: I'm confident it will. And so are my cast and crew. But like they say in filmdom, we leave the rest for time to say. I'm in no hurry to count my chicken; I'll wait for them to hatch!

Q: Why has your directorial 'Milenge Milenge' (Shahid-Kareena starrer) been delayed?
A: Not really. It's just that Boney has been through a lot in recent times, but he has now put it behind him after the success of ‘No Entry'. He wants to promote 'Milenge Milenge' in a certain way and soon, everything will fall in place. The film has worked out well. Kareena has given a mind-blowing performance.

Q: You are also doing Ekta Kapoor's next film?
A: Ekta Kapoor loved 'Tere Naam', and has been interacting with me since then. We were discussing a few stories since some time, and finally, we have a great story ('Kya Love Storry Hai' starring Tusshar and Ayesha) on our hands. I love Tusshar; he is such a soft and straightforward guy.

Q: We hear, you want to turn producer?
A: Yes. After a certain time, it becomes very difficult to direct from someone else's perspective. Sooner rather than later, I want to become an independent producer. I have bought a new office at Andheri, and my brother is helping me to look after it and making a few ad films.