Welcome Back, despite the lukewarm reviews it received on Friday, has made a massive collection at the box office over the weekend. An overjoyed Anees Bazmee speaks to us about being back with a bang.
What was going through your mind before the release of Welcome Back?
I was very happy and excited that two years of our hard work will now be in front of the people. I am happy that people are enjoying the film and laughing in the theatres. This was a bigger film than the first one. Although I wasn’t very happy with the VFX in the film — except the climax scenes.
No one expected the film to do so well…
Yes. Unfortunately, the movie couldn’t be uploaded in more than 350 theatres. Otherwise, the numbers would have been bigger.
Everyone’s talking about the chemistry between Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar…
They are the main pillars of the film and their characters are very loveable. But I think everybody has performed really well.
How do you cope when things are not going your way?
I am a writer and director and it is not in my hands. I work with a lot of honesty because I know that there is no shortcut to success. I am a God-fearing man. Even in this film, critics tried to pull us down but the public has given them the answer.
A lot has been reported about your fight with producer Firoz Nadiadwala. How do you react to that?
(Laughs) All I can say is that all’s well between us.
…and with Salman Khan?
I keep meeting him and we always laugh at the rumours doing the rounds about us.
Tell us a little about your upcoming projects?
There is No Entry Mei Entry with Salman and Ankhen 2 with Amitabh Bachchan. There is also a small love story that I have written. I might start that project before the other two.
Welcome Back marks your seventh successful film. How do you maintain the record?
I try to give some gap between my films. I am a writer and a lot goes into planning a project. I don’t want to make films in a hurry. It’s no more about running a kitchen anymore. Also, I had not taken my family for a world tour so I fulfilled that dream. Until I am mentally prepared, I won’t do a film.
