I have always thought of Sajid Khan as a brash guy, which is why our communication has been limited to formal hellos and such. Also, knowing that he hates critics makes him my natural-born enemy, but somehow a casual post-release phone conversation leads to an over-coffee chat with the Housefull director. The film has taken a phenomenal opening.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is thrilled to be calling distributors to request for tickets for friends and relatives. The star cast is celebrating their "big hit". Just how big? I'll let SK tell you. Read on...

So you have managed to deliver what you promised 00 a hit film.
I knew that Housefull will be the biggest hit of 2010. I had said that the title of this film would be synonymous with its fate at the box-office.

You even gave letters to the cast members at the onset saying this would be the biggest hit of their careers?
And that has become true. I wrote in those letters that 'Guys, you need to have blind faith in me and not cross question me because I know that I am making the film for the audience and not for you and me'. I said, 'Let's make this film for a ticket-paying audience and not for ourselves'.

But it also said that you would give them their career-best?
Yes, till our next one together (laughs). So far, the indication is: it is the biggest hit of their careers. Except for Boman Irani, who has 3 Idiots. I don't think I will be able to beat that film's collections.

Wasn't that a cocky statement?
How is it cocky?

Filmmaking is a gamble. You never know what will work. And promising a hit is cocky.
No, filmmaking is not a gamble. It's like a batsman saying, 'Main pehle ball pe chakka maroonga.'

But no one says that. Or claims that.
Aur player ne maar diya toh?

Maar diya, toh maar diya.
Toh maine sixer maar diya, na? Are you aware of that we have taken the biggest opening after 3 Idiots? I was cocky/ confident even during Heyy Babyy, when even Akshay, Riteish and Sajid Nadiadwala weren't sure. I'd told Akshay at the time that I'd give him his career's first 50 crore- opening film.

I did. Housefull will be Akshay Kumar's first 100- crore grosser. You know that there are only two 100 crore grosser films in India? One is Ghajini (106 crores), and the other is 3 Idiots (204 crore). I am hoping Akshay joins that league now.

Have you found a formula?
There is a formula. And that formula is entertainment. When you go to the number one heart surgeon with the biggest of problems, you know there is a 95 percent success rate. There will always be a five per cent chance of failure but we pay such a premium, for a good doctor because we know ke yahan pe kaam hone hi wala hai.

But that's a procedure.
And so is this. Entertainment is the simplest procedure of them all which people have forgotten. The formula is, believing in yourself, and believing in the audience for whom you are making the film. You fail when you stop believing in the audience and start believing that you are God and that whatever you make will be accepted.

Some also make films to win awards.
Awards, to be very honest, don't make the kind of difference they used to ten years ago. I think no one's price or respect goes up after getting an award. Today, they are merely TV shows. And very soon, not only will people charge for accepting awards, they will start charging to accept invitations to them.

I disagree. All actors love awards.
Of course they love awards. Ok, tell me something. When five actors are nominated for the same award, how many actually turn up for the award function?

Arindam Chaudhary had made a "fool-proof film" that bombed. Now you seem to have found the fool-proof method.
Stop being sarcastic. The formula is very simple. Believe in what you are doing. You have to update with the times. No way is Housefull a tacky film. The starcast, the sets, the clothes, everything is looking good. There is no vulgarity in the film, there is no dishonour to women or...

But some people from the gay community are offended. They think you are homophobic.
Really? There is nothing offending about the gay scenes in Housefull. They are cute. I have gay friends, I hang out with them. I think they are very creative and talented people. I mean no disrespect, but whatever you do, you end up offending some section of the public. I am definitely not homophobic. I am very heterosexual. I love women.

You don't think any other film this year will top your film's collections?
I hope Farah's (Khan) film Tees Maar Khan beats my film. Honest to God. There are many big films coming this year. There is Kites and Raajneeti, which I think will do very well.

Also, Bhansali's Guzaarish. These are all big films which have the potential to do great box-office business. That is why it is too early to say anything but a year later, we will see which movie is biggest in terms of box-office.

Farah made two films with SRK and is making a third with Akshay... You have made two films with Akshay... you see where I am going?
My third with SRK??? (laughs) I don't even know what the third one is. But of course I would love to work with Shah Rukh. Which director would not love to work with him? And my dream is to get the two superstars (SRK and Akki) together.

Now that would be something.
Exactly my point. And if they come together, sab se bada faayda kiska hoga? Audience ka. They both have such strong fan bases, imagine the two of them coming together, like '70s jodi Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna -- the best two-hero pairing, both superstars.

Now imagine Akki-SRK together, doing a comedy, action or a song together. And who better than me in the world to pull it off?

Any plans to become a producer like your sister Farah?
No, no, no. (Laughs) I don't think so. A producer has to take too much stress. I see my friend Sajid Nadiadwala doing that and I don't want to do that.