Just
recently
we
got
Neeraj
Vora
to
speak
to
us
on
Phir
Hera
Pheri.
That's
his
second
directorial
venture
after
Khiladi
420.
But
much
before
turning
a
director,
Neeraj
was
a
well-known
writer
in
Bollywood.
He's
responsible
for
the
funny
liners
and
Hindi
humor
in
most
of
Priyadarshan's
comedies.
Here
he
clears
the
writer's
block.
How
important
is
writing
in
the
making
of
the
movie?
Writing
is
the
foundation
of
the
movie.
If
the
writing
is
not
good,
the
film
will
fall
even
before
it
is
made.
When
the
writer
is
also
the
director,
execution
of
the
film
becomes
easy.
Direction
is
99%
hardship
and
1%
intelligence.
It's
a
tough
job.
What's
already
been
written
has
to
be
executed.
Recently
writer-director
Sanjay
Chhel
made
a
statement
that
there
are
200
promos
of
the
latest
films
on
TV.
Yet,
the
writer's
name
does
not
figure
anywhere.
Do
you
think
that
writers
haven't
got
their
due
credit?
I
don't
think
so.
Giving
or
not
giving
importance
to
a
writer
solely
depends
on
an
individual
producer.
For
instance,
if
someone
picks
up
a
foreign
DVD
and
puts
it
on
paper,
where
is
the
writer?
But
for
a
film
like
Lagaan,
you
need
to
put
the
writer's
credit.
Even
in
Swades,
the
writer
has
contributed
tremendously.
I
would
say
that
in
such
films,
he
is
as
important
as
the
director.
There
is
nothing
wrong
with
being
inspired.
But
after
being
inspired,
there
should
be
some
really
good,
original
work.
You
should
demand
for
your
name
only
when
you
are
worth
it.
I
don't
want
to
start
a
movement,
carrying
a
jhanda
for
writers!
I
would
say
that
everyone
is
working
hard.
Even
the
cameraman
and
sound
guys
work
hard.
The
issue
arises
when
you
have
done
excellent
work
and
not
been
given
credit
for
it.
Here,
dialogue
writing
is
considered
to
be
a
special
skill.
The
story
tells
you
what
it
is
whereas
the
screenplay
tells
you
how
it
is.
You
are
known
for
your
funny
lines,
time
and
again.
What
is
it
that
inspires
you
to
come
up
with
such
lines?
My
inspiration
has
been
my
father,
a
classical
musician.
While
growing
up,
we
were
not
allowed
to
watch
movies
or
hear
film
songs.
My
mother
was
very
fond
of
movies.
So
we
would
not
tell
our
father
and
quietly
watch
movies.
My
younger
brother
is
a
musician
who
has
worked
on
the
music
of
my
next
film
Familywala
starring
Arjun
Rampal
and
Dia
Mirza.
He
also
did
the
music
for
Malamaal
Weekly.
My
father
had
a
great
sense
of
humor.
He
has
a
sharp
and
funny
wit.
So
you
can
say
that
I
have
inherited
his
sense
of
humor.
Throughout
my
school,
I
used
to
imitate
him.
Once
you
start
doing
that,
it
becomes
your
second
nature.
That
is
what
started
reflecting
in
my
scripts.
So
all
the
credit
for
my
funny
lines
goes
to
my
father,
Vinayak
Vora.
Which
was
the
first
script
that
you
wrote?
It
was
called
Kharidar
starring
Sarika
and
Shekhar
Suman.
It
was
her
last
film.
Then
I
wrote
Pehla
Nasha
directed
by
Ashutosh
Gowariker.
I
also
did
music
under
the
name
of
Neeraj-Uttank.
But
I
just
got
work
for
writing
scripts
thereafter.
Then
I
got
Baazi
followed
by
Rangeela.
I
got
so
involved
with
Rangeela
that
I
gave
my
wife's
house
as
the
location
for
Urmila's
house.
It
was
thanks
to
Aamir
Khan
that
I
got
Rangeela.
I
had
gone
on
the
sets
of
Rangeela
for
a
narration
when
Ram
Gopal
Varma
told
me
to
act.
And
I
even
bagged
a
small
role
in
the
film.
Then
Priyadarshan
offered
me
Virasat.
From
then
on,
I
got
films
like
Mann
and
Daud!
But
my
real
passion
lies
in
writing
and
directing.
Cinema
is
my
passion.
I
don't
even
mind
dying
as
a
production-boy.
I
want
to
be
in
this
arena.
How
is
it
that
we
haven't
seen
you
on
screen
as
an
actor,
of
late?
I
don't
get
time
to
act.
Acting
is
also
very
time
consuming.
But
I
do
try
and
act.
I
have
acted
in
my
next
film
Familywala.
Your
character
in
Daud
was
extremely
funny.
But
the
film
didn't
do
well.
Why
do
you
think
it
didn't
work?
I
wasn't
the
writer
of
Daud.
That
can
be
one
reason
why
it
didn't
work!
Secondly,
I
acted
in
the
film!
That
could
also
be
a
reason
why
it
didn't
work.
Thirdly,
I
think
the
movie
was
made
way
ahead
of
its
time.
Ram
Gopal
Varma
is
very
fond
of
me
as
a
performer
and
writer.
He
was
actually
trying
to
launch
me
in
Daud.
Though
Daud
didn't
do
well,
he
called
me
for
Satya,
which
was
the
best
performance
in
my
career.
It
was
the
smallest
but
the
most
correct
performance
given
by
me.
As
a
writer-director
team,
RGV
and
I
have
only
worked
in
Rangeela.
Except
for
RGV,
I
haven't
worked
with
anyone
else
as
an
actor.
Whenever
he
calls
me
to
act,
I
always
go,
because
I
like
the
way
he
treats
his
actors.
Has
he
approached
you
for
writing
of
late?
He
wanted
me
to
write
the
film
he
was
making
with
Shah
Rukh
Khan.
But
I
really
don't
have
time.
Nothing
can
be
done
half-heartedly.
Would
you
like
to
work
with
him
again?
Of
course,
I
would
love
to.
What
are
your
other
projects
as
a
director?
I
am
planning
three
movies.
There
is
a
romantic
comedy,
a
saga
kind
of
film
and
also
an
adult
comedy.
I
will
also
be
producing
them.
Negotiations
are
on.
I
am
in
the
process
of
finalizing
the
scripts.
What
are
your
future
projects
as
a
writer?
One
is
Bhagam
Bhag
with
Priyadarshan.
Chup
Chup
Ke
will
release
along
with
Phir
Hera
Pheri.
Then
I
am
also
writing
a
film
for
Abbas-Mustan.
There
is
also
Rohit
Shetty's
Golmaal.
What
do
you
enjoy
writing
more?
Comedy
or
thrillers?
Thrillers.
In
fact,
I
would
like
to
go
for
anything
that
is
good
and
entertaining.
Your
top
3
favorite
Hindi
films
Sholay,
Mughal-E-Azam
and
Lagaan.