/> Though Madhur Bhandarkar is shooting a comedy—his career's first, we might add—things are far from funny in his real life at the moment.

Just when the comedy Dil To Bachcha Hai Jee began shooting this month after monsoonal delays, the director's mother was hospitalized. Madhur had to shuttle between Hinduja hospital and his set in Andheri in the suburbs of Mumbai, and try to see the funny of side life on camera while his mother lay critically ill.

As if coping with an emotional crisis was not enough Madhur's leading man Ajay Devgn has to leave for a promotional tour of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai on Saturday leaving Madhur's comedy bereft of its main character.

The director's problems don't end there. On Thursday one precious day of shooting had to be cancelled because the set had to be re-designed.

Sounding utterly distressed Madhur says, "Ajay has to leave for Delhi and Kolkata for his promotion. And shooting got cancelled on Thursday. So I've just one day to finish his work for this schedule.Luckily Ajay is a quick actor. He doesn't waste time on the sets."

Even otherwise shooting funny scenes with one's mom in the hospital is not easy.

Says Madhur, "Luckily Dil To Bachcha Hai Jee is not a slapstick comedy. The mood on the sets is subtle. If everyone had to constantly scream shout and whoop it up I don't know how I'd have coped."

The one good thing that has come out of the gloomy week of illness, cancellations and other glitches is the director's bonding with Ajay Devgn

Madhur can't stop raving about his hero. "Ajay is so hassle-free and chilled out. He is effortless on the sets. I want to work immediately again with him."