Saket Chaudhary on <i>PKSE</i>

Courtesy: IndiaFM

Monday, August 28, 2006

A very fresh and young looking and promising film is headed your way. Watch out for Pyaar Ke Side-Effects, a rip-roaring romantic comedy starring Rahul Bose and Mallika Sherawat. We caught up with the young director of the film Saket Choudhary who spoke about his work.

First and foremost give us an introduction of yourself?
I was the associate director for Asoka and then I did a couple of serials before doing Pyaar Ke Side-Effects.

How did the initial idea of Pyaar Ke Side-Effects begin?
I always wanted to write a romantic comedy. I wanted somebody who could speak to the audience about the difficulties in relationships and marriages. A commitment is very difficult and that is what I wanted to show in my film.

Tell us something about the film.
As I said it is a romantic comedy. It is the story of Sid (Rahul Bose), a 30 year old DJ who comes across Trisha (Mallika Sherawat) at her own wedding. She runs away from her own wedding and after that Sid and Trisha keep on meeting and finally start dating. After 3 years of courtship, she wants to get married and Sid doesn't know what to do as he is not ready for it.

Were Rahul Bose and Mallika Sherawat always your first choices?
Rahul was my first choice when I started writing the script. It took me about 2 years to get financing for my film and the producers PNC suggested Mallika to me. I didn't agree of roping in Mallika but PNC insisted that I meet her. After meeting her I still wasn't convinced but I saw something exciting in her. So I tweaked her character a bit to suit her personality. She is basically a small town girl with Punjabi values.

A lot was spoken about the height difference between the two actors. What do you have to say?
Well, she is taller. We tried to capitalize on the eccentricity of these two characters rather than pretending that Rahul is taller. In the film Mallika calls him 5 foot 6 inch and Rahul corrects him saying its 5 foot 8 inch.

Pritam has given a rocking score for the film. Is music an essential part of the film?
Music in the film was very essential in a romantic comedy. Music had to be incorporated for the fact that Rahul is a DJ in the film. So he either plays music in a club or listens to it somewhere or the other. I wanted a specific sound for the film and Pritam gave me just that. As it is a contemporary Hindi film, it has English lyrics.

But there is a Punjabi song as well.
I actually wanted a 'qawwali' but then the Punjabi track suited better.

As it seems, this film is targeted for the multiplexes.
It is not targeted for the multiplexes. I am hoping the film releases as far and wide as possible. Every people in smaller towns are watching films like PKSE but I don't think that it will go to every nook and corner of India.

Tell us about the rest of the cast?
Sophie Choudhary plays the role of an item girl from music videos. Ranvir Shorey is a phenomenally good actor and I always wanted him in my movie. He is Rahul's friend who has a problem in everything right from having a bath to maintaining his relationships with his girlfriend. Then there is Aamir Bashir who is Rahuls' brother-in-law. He always makes the right decisions but gets scared when his wife gets pregnant and this a time when he is dumbfounded.

How is PNC as a production house?
They are very exciting. They are one the few productions houses who take in a director who just have a script. Unlike other producers, they were not like it's a good script par picture nahi chalegi. They don't reject you outright and work on it well. Also it is very important for a first time director that his first film is well marketed otherwise it is very easy for a small film to get lost in no time.

PNC's pictures haven't worked at the box-office at all other than Jhankar beats. Do you think your film will change their fate?
I hope it does well. PNC always tries different things. Some work and some don't. The outcome of the film will make me realize my work. I hope their confidence increases with this film so they can try out some more great stuff.

Tell us in one line why people should watch PKSE?
It is a comedy that will touch your heart.

What else are you planning?
There are a couple of ideas. I am definitely going to be with PNC. It won't make sense saying anything right now as it is too early.