Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, known for a string of Hindi comedies, says his landmark hit 'Hera Pheri' had an unexpected personal consequence: it 'made my life miserable.' In an interview, the director reflected on his career trajectory, explaining how one successful comedy led to a two-decade-long streak of comic films that he privately dreaded.
A Career Defined by Comedy
Priyadarshan's Hindi filmography, from 2001 to 2021, includes 20 films, 16 of which were comedies, as reported by both Hindustan Times and NewsBytes. Among his notable comic hits, Hindustan Times notes, were 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' and 'Billu', both of which carried heavy doses of comedy. His most recent Hindi release, 'Bhooth Bangla', which came out earlier this year, was also a horror-comedy.
Despite that record, the director said he never felt at home in the genre. "I started with serious films," he told NewsBytes. "Gardish worked for me, Virasat worked for me. Then Hera Pheri made my life miserable." That film, he said, set the tone for what followed: "After that, it was just comedy, comedy,and comedy. To be honest, I hate shooting comedies."
This sentiment is echoed in his conversation with Hindustan Times, where he said, "I don't like making comedies," adding that when s director makes so many films in the same genre, he needs a change.
The Craft of Comedy
Priyadarshan, however, distinguishes between the kind of comedy he tries to make and the more gag-driven fare that sometimes defines the genre. "Now, I have realized I can shoot films with humour and stories that have humour, instead of just joke after joke," he said, in comments carried by both Hindustan Times and NewsBytes. "I try situational humour," he continued. "I don't put gags and comedy tracks."
His approach, he explained, is rooted in character rather than performance. "Even in comedies, I believe all my characters are serious, but people find what happens to them humorous," he said. "I don't like actors making faces," he added, according to Hindustan Times. "This is the only way I know," he said.
Why 'Haiwaan'?
Against this background, Priyadarshan's upcoming Hindi film, 'Haiwaan', represents adeliberate shift. Hindustan Times describes it as a departure from what he has become known for in Bollywood. The director himself connects this project to his long-held preference. "When you make so many films in the same genre, you need a change. A lot of directors have a signature. But I don't want that," he told Hindustan Times. "That's why I tried Haiwaan, because I really enjoy making serious films."
According to NewsBytes, 'Haiwaan' stars Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in lead roles and is a remake of Priyadarshan's own 2016 Malayalam film 'Oppam', which starred Mohanlal. The cast also includes Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Saiyami Kher in pivotal roles. The psychological thriller is scheduled for release on September 11.
Looking Ahead
Priyadarshan's comments reveal a filmmaker who, despite his commercial success in comedy, has long harbored a desire to return to the genre where he began. With 'Haiwaan', he says, he is finally doing that. Whether audiences will embrace this shift remains to be seen, but the director himself seems clear about his preference: "I really enjoy making serious films."