Kedar Shinde's excellence in Marathi entertainment industry has been proved time and again with a string of box-office success and audience appreciation.

Evidently this success has got him noticed among Bollywood fraternity, as Tips film offered him to direct their film 'Toh Baat Pakki', with a formidable star cast of Tabu, Sharman Joshi, Vatsal Sheth and Uvika in principal roles.

Having successfully started his television career with 'House Full', he quickly moved to Marathi films and churned out a string of box-office success like 'Jatra', 'Bakula Namdev Ghotale' and 'Aga Bai Arechya' which gained him recognition in the industry. Now Kedar is poised to enter Bollywood with his first Hindi film 'Toh Baat Pakki'.

In a tête-à-tête Kedar Shinde opens up on his experience of making his first Hindi film, about the nervousness of directing Tabu and the whacky concept of the film.

How would you sum up the experience of making your first Bollywood film 'Toh Baat Pakki'?
The entire experience of making the movie was fabulous, as it was my first movie in Hindi entertainment industry so it was like a dream come true for me.

Could you tell us how you started and when did you felt that you have to get into entertainment industry?
When I was in college I wrote one play for an inter-college competition which was hugely appreciated and even from childhood I wanted to do something different in the field of art. Later on, I wrote many plays followed by Marathi serials like 'House Full', 'Hasa Chakatfu', and 'Ghadlay Bighadlay' and all my serials did very well.

Carrying on from there, I started doing Marathi films which were also loved by the audience and did well at the box-office, one of them being 'Aga Bai Arechya'. Thereafter the next step was Bollywood so here I'm directing my first film 'Toh Baat Pakki'.

How did you bag this film?
I got this film because of my previous work in Marathi entertainment industry. It made Tips Film (producers) believe that I can pull the film off.

What was your reaction when you first read the script and what made you select this film as your Hindi directorial debut?
Well, when I first read the script I knew that I'm going to direct it. The film deals with the universal theme of groom-hunting. Every family goes through the process at some point of time in their life.

On top of it, I'm a huge fan of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Sooraj R. Barjatya's movies so 'Toh Baat Pakki' which is based on family comedy drama in a very subtle manner enticed me to sign it as my Bollywood debut.

How as your experience with Tips Films the producers of the film?
I don't think the movie would have come out so well without their support as their creative people always used to be there on set and took this project as their baby. Right from the start of the movie they have given more than I could have asked. It's all a team effort.

How was it working with Tabu the diva of Bollywood?
For the first two days, I was numb and in shock, as I couldn't believe that I'm directing Tabu. I never ever thought in my wildest dream that I will be doing this. I think directing Tabu is a treat for any director, as she is a director's actor. I would like to tell you that she is not only a good actress, but also a great human being.

Has the script been executed ditto on-screen the way you imagined?
Yes, definitely it has come on-screen the way we have imagined; in fact it came out beyond our expectation. And most importantly, it's a comedy which mostly depends on action and reaction of actors that have come out really well in the film. All the characters from script have come alive on screen.

So what is so special about the music of the film?
The music of the film is already a super hit and with Pritam on board nothing lesser could have been expected. Over all, he has done a fabulous job.

How was it working with the talented Sharman Joshi?
Actually, we know each other ever since we started our professional career. In fact, our personal life also goes hand-in-hand as we both got married and had firstborns around the same time.

On the sets of 'Toh Baat Pakki' Sharman was the only actor of whom I was aware of and I think that was a great help for me as I was working for the first time with the rest of the actors.

You have earlier worked in regional cinema after doing a film in Bollywood what changes do you find?
I think in Bollywood you have to be a lot more patient. Also the style of working is bit different but that can be understood as its audience is large. However, that also changed my vision and made me a lot more patient.

Have you signed any other film after 'Toh Baat Pakki'?
I have a three film contract with Tips, but as of now nothing has started as all eyes are set on when 'Toh Baat Pakki' will be opened for public.