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Wedding Mania

 In a free-wheeling conversation, Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda talk about their upcoming comedy flick Veere Ki Wedding, that will offer a mixed bag of emotions to the audience.

Box Office India (BOI): First, tell us what Veerey Ki Wedding is all about.
Pulkit Samrat (PS): Tell, Kriti.
Kriti Kharbanda (KK): Why should I tell? Why should I do all the work, all the time?
PS: It is Veerey Ki Wedding and I am Veer in the film. You are Geet, so you should know.
KK: If you are Veer and it is Veerey Ki Wedding, then you should talk about it, na.
PS: This is the bhasudi in the wedding that we keep talking about in the film. It happens due to the characters in the film, especially the fathers of Veer and Geet; they are constantly playing a game of one-upmanship. The funny, intense and emotional situations in the film arise due to their relationship. Everything goes with the flow from there.
BOI: How were you both approached for the film?
PS: I think both of us were the last ones to be cast. I learnt this recently.
KK: Technically, I was the last one to be cast.
PS: In fact, they had even shot a bit with the other members of the cast. Karan (Gomber), who is the co-producer of the film, has been a good friend of mine since we were kids. We practically grew up next to each other in Delhi. So when he told me they were going to back this film and asked me if I wanted to do something in it, I said forget 'something', I will do everything in it. I can't say no to him, so I got on board. What about you, Kriti?
KK: I did the movie because Pulkit Samrat was starring in it! (Laughs).
PS: That's nice.
KK: But I was the last one to be cast. Stop taking away my glory, Pulkit.
BOI: Can you shed some light on the characters of Veer and Geet?
PS: Veer wears his heart on his sleeve, like many Delhi guys do. The good guys, not the bad ones who feature in the newspapers! He is one of those good ones who does everything he can to help people.
KK: Dilwale Dilliwale.
PS: Yes, they are Dilwale. Veer doesn't have problems in his own life, so he solves other people's problems. He does that by not only breaking things but breaking bones too. He will go to any lengths. Kriti, you should talk about Geet now.
KK: Why don't you continue because you see Geet very differently from how I do.
PS: It's not all that different! Geet is a very talkative, bubbly girl. That means she is full of energy. And I am not talking about you, I am talking about Geet, the character.
KK: You have already said, in multiple interviews, that Geet is Kriti and Kriti is Geet. So can you please be nice now?!
PS: Okay, if you say so! But, yes, she is still a very bubbly kind of girl. Very colourful and cheerful. Her laughter is very infectious. Nature… I'm not so sure about.
BOI: How did you two break the ice?
PS: What ice? We just broke bread together! We connected over food. Everybody on the set connected over food. We were shooting in Delhi, so food is a must. Also, I found that Kriti was staying in Delhi a really long time ago. A lot of her relatives still live there. That Delhi connect was there for us too. Then there were the readings we did together, which helped break the ice. You get to know each other's timing well and that's why the readings are held; not just to mug up your lines.
BOI: You spoke about working with Satish Shah. What about the others? What was shooting with this ensemble cast like?
PS: I used my classic line to apply maska to Jimmy (Sheirgill) sir. I told him that I had grown up watching his films and that he hasn't aged a bit. I also told him how blessed I felt working with him on a film. That part was completely true. He has got a thairaav in his performance, from the very beginning. He is also technically very sound. When you work with stalwarts like him, you learn so much. I steal these small things from them and use them later on.
KK: Satishji and I hit it off instantly. We got along like a house on fire. He loves to talk. Since this is an ensemble film, one has to wait for some time for their shot to come. Between scenes, we chatted a lot and he shared his experiences, stories from his time, etc. It was really great. Plus, he is a director, which helps when you are shooting with him.
He is also technically very sound and that is one of the best things about Pulkit too. He also knows a lot about technical things. When you work with people who understand the craft so well, the journey becomes a lot more fun. I had worked with Jimmy sir in the past, in a commercial. I have since watched many of his films and seeing his performance live… I think he is one of the most talented actors we have in our country today. When you are shooting as part of an ensemble cast, there is always an undercurrent of excitement around you.
BOI: What was it like working with director Asshu Trikha? Tell us about your association.
PS: He knew what he wanted to shoot and you could not change his mind. That's actually good because it means he is totally convinced of what he wants to do and the way he wants to do it. Basically, even if he is open to other's inputs, he manages to convince us to do things the way he wants them. (Laughs) You just have to do what he says. I believe that's the first thing an actor should do, surrender to their director. He shoots very systematically, keeping in mind the editing of the film. He never once shot extra or anything that was not required for the scene. There was this time we were shooting a scene and he said 'cut' before I could finish my last line. On asking him why, he said he had already got the shot.
BOI: We've had so many wedding films in Bollywood. How is your film different from the others?
PS: It has the two of us. I can't say it has her because she has been a bride at least five times already! Since it is a wedding film, there are a lot of songs, celebrations and dancing but there is an element of humour in almost every situation. I think that's very interesting. Also, the songs are really cool.
KK: As a film, you know when you have a really big reason to say 'no' to a marriage. So, from Geet's point of view, she is the only child and her parents have never said 'no' to her for anything. They are very happy to know that she has a boyfriend and want her to get married but, for some reason, her father opposes her wedding. So this film is bout convincing each other's fathers not to make a big deal out of something and call off the wedding.
BOI: Music plays a very important role in a wedding film. Please shed some light on the music of this film.
KK: My favourite song is Kalli. Yours is Mind blowing?! They are both nice.
PS: Kalli is like a club number. We kind of reunite in that song. The song is really cool also because it is the very first time both of us have got to do the Bachata, which may look like the Salsa but isn't. It is basically Argentinian. So we have done a Bollywood version of the Bachata, which is more sensuous. It's an interesting form of dance and we got to learn it. The track is also very nice; it is by Meet Bros Mind blowing was the first song we shot.
KK: No, Veerey ki wedding! Okay, so it is the title track of the film and it is really cool with everybody in it. I think it is going to be a cool shaadi number. It has been very nicely choreographed. Pappu-Mallu are really nice choreographers.
BOI: There's another film releasing along with yours. What is your take on the clash?
KK: Pari? It looks like a damn cool film.
PS: It is of a different genre. And I am really glad that Anushka has come up with something like this, breaking the mould and doing something nice with the horror genre.
KK: If the producers are not happy because they aren't getting the shows they want, then they won't release the film. The fact that everyone is able to release their films and get enough shows means they are confident of their film working.
We don't know what people like and dislike. I believe comedy is something you have to do from the director's point of view because when he is writing, he clearly has something specific in mind.
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