by Subhash K Jha

First things first. Vikram Bhatt's new comedy Deewane Huey Paagal is modeled on the Farrely brothers' 1998 comedy There's Something About Mary. But it is not a sequel to Vikram's 2002 comedy Awara Pagal Deewana.

Says the director, "We do have the same team, plus Shahid Kapoor whom I've worked with for the first time. Even Aftab who was one of the protagonists the last time isn't part of the main cast this time. But he makes a surprise appearance in Deewane Huey Pagal."

Vikram's tone softens when he speaks about Aftab. "He's my pal. Aftab has done the maximum films with me . In fact we've finished shooting Ankahee where he plays a doctor and we've just started shooting Harry Baweja's next where I'm also working with Urmila Matondkar for the first time..."

Right now Vikram is looking forward to Deewane Huey Paagal. He admits it derives inspiration from the Hollywood film, just like Awara Paagal Deewana which was modeled on The Whole Nine Yards.

"But only the basic plot is the same. The characters are all very different from the original...See, a comedy can only go a certain way. There will be either a group of men chasing a girl or infidelity or a heist or some other crime. I've chosen the first option."

Vikram admits there's a glut of comedies in Bollywood. "I guess our film industry tends to over-do every genre until it's exhausted. I can't claim Deewane Huey Paagal makes a significant departure from the comic formula. I won't call it a path-breaking film. I'll call it a safe film."

Does he feel the comic genre has reached a saturation point? "Not really. True, Shaadi No.1 didn't do well. But No Entry and Garam Masala are hits. And although Deewane Huey Paagal comes close on the heels of Garam Masala I don't think audiences will find my film repetitive. What Akshay Kumar did in Garam Masala is quite different from what he'll be seen doing in my film."

Though producer Feroz Nadiadwala and his favourite actor Akshay Kumar are known to make their presence felt on the sets, Vikram has no complaints.

"All the four heroes Akshay, Suneil Shetty, Shahid Kapoor and Paresh have clearly defined roles.And yes ,two of them Suniel and Paresh, play physically challenged characters. But we don't ridicule their handicap. Nor do we use the handicap as a formula."

Having worked with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawail before, the director has established a certain comfort level with the two actors. "But Shahid was a new experience for me. I must say he underestimates himself as an actor. He works really hard on every sequence. And though he's fine in a take he still wants another."