/> Arshad Warsi takes to film production with a unique story in Kaun Bola?. However, he denies donning the director's hat

From a choreographer to an actor and now a producer, you have come a long way. But you have denied taking up direction of films. Why so?
I am not directing any film at the moment but it is a desire that I wish to fulfil some day. I have already started to move towards that direction, by writing my own script as well as reading some stories. But that will take some more time to materialise. I guess I should be ready for direction in a couple of year's time.

Meanwhile, I am happy that Kaun Bola? the first production from my banner; Shooting Stars Productions has shaped up very well.

Kaun Bola? is an intriguing title.
The story of Kaun Bola? is quite unusual. I play this guy who hears and sees dead people. How his interaction with ghosts takes its toll on him is what the film is all about. Hence the title.

Is it a ghost story then?
It is a never-seen-before ghost film that kids will enjoy immensely. I promise they will not get scared as there are some quite enjoyable and hilarious moments. It is a romantic-comedy with a lot of drama in it. You may call it an edge-of-the seat story.

I play the lead alongwith Dia Mirza, Sandhya Mridul, Boman Irani and Engish actress Zehra Jane.

How was your experience being a first time producer?
It was thrilling. The shooting of Kaun Bola? is complete and is in the post-production stages. It is being readied for release during the second half of the year provided the theatre strike is called off before that.

You are an actor first, how different was it to work as a producer?
I had decided that whenever I turn a producer, I would take special care of my team. And I did just that during the shooting of Kaun Bola?.

I have tried to do my best in every possible way. I believe that a film is a visual video and should be pleasing to the eye first. So after a long search, I settled for the virgin locales of New Castle in England. I also believe that if one wants a good project, he has to see to the comfort of his team.

From years of working in the film industry, I have seen that when an actor or even a technician, mainly the head of the departments are not in the proper frame of mind, they cannot give the right result. I tried to avoid that by giving my team all that they required.

The cost of shooting for one day in England was Rs 18 lakh. And what happens if the shot is not okayed on that day due to one member of the team falling ill? It is sheer loss of so much money.

What did you do to make them comfortable?
Instead of staying in hotels that were very exhorbitantly priced, I rented some swanking apartments with two-three bedrooms for the two months that we were shooting. All of us took turns to cook for the entire team.

It was a de-stressing exercise and after a point each one of us was looking for his turn to enter the kitchen and make some exotic dish. As the producer's wife, Maria was not to be left behind.

Every few days she would send some small gifts for all of us from India. I saw to it that the unit had everything they wanted and hence we bonded very well. I treated each one of them the way I would like to be treated by my producers.

Another banner that goes all out to treat the unit well is Anil Kapoor Productions. One realises other people's hardships if you are an actor-turned- producer since you have gone through the stress and discomfort yourself while shooting for a film.

You have worked with Dia and Boman in Lage Raho Munnabhai. Did the bonding come from there?
I would rather work with people I am comfortable with. I feel Dia is a very brilliant actress who has not got her due. I realised her acting potential when I was watching the rushes of Lage Raho ... with director Rajkumar Hirani.

Later she was also a part of Krazzy 4 and that is where we developed our friendship. In Kaun Bola?, you will see her in a different role.

What about Zehra?
I became her fan after watching her in Goal. She played my wife in it.

Kaun Bola? has been directed by Kabir Kaushik who directed you earlier in Sehar.
Yes, Kabir is a very talented director and a go-getter. He doesn't stop till he extracts the best from his actors. Besides being romantic, Kaun Bola? has a lot of drama and some tricky scenes. And Kabir is very good at handling them.

And of your acting assignments, which is the one you are looking forward to?
In fact, all of them. Anil Kapoor Productions' Shortcut is a great film. And mine is a role that the film industry will identify with and journalists will love it. I play an actor who doesn't know to act.

He cannot remember his lines and has two left feet when it comes to dance yet he throws tantrums on the sets and ill-treats everybody. Everyone hates him. When I was narrated this role, I loved it and when I was shooting for it, I would just crack up each time as it is quite hilarious.

In Ishqiya, I play a guy from Bhopal who alongwith Naseeruddin Shah is a small-time crook always running away from cops. I had to speak in a different dialect and was fortunate to pick the language quickly, much to everyone's delight.

The film has a Vishal Bhardwaj feel to it since he is the producer. It is raw, real and very touching. The director of this film Abhishek Chauhan is a talented man and trust me, people will talk about his work for a very long time.

Now that you have your goals set, are you happy with the way your career is shaping up?
Surely. The three films that I have mentioned are all different from each other and I have also turned producer.

Do you feel proud when you are addressed as 'Circuit' even today?
I hate it (laughs) though it was my idea to name the character so.

Coming back to Kaun Bola?, when are you planning to release it?
I am looking at July-August.

After being a very prominent character in most of Rohit Shetty's films especially Golmaal and Golmaal Returns, you are not doing his next. Why?
Because Rohit didn't ask me though I have nothing against anyone.