Anees Bazmi goes from 'No Entry' to 'Welcome'

Mumbai, Nov 22 (IANS) Anees Bazmi's "No Entry" is one of the biggest hits of 2005 and the marital comedy disproves the myth that screenwriters do not make capable directors.

Currently, Anees is one of the most sought-after directors in Mumbai. He has already given the nod to the Hindi version of the much-acclaimed Tamil film "Autograph" which Raj Kumar Santoshi will present and for which he'll work with Akshaye Khanna again after "Deewangee".

But there's more. "I've just signed up with Feroz Nadiadwala for a comedy called "Welcome"... so after "No Entry" it's "Welcome"," laughs the writer-director.

He can afford to laugh all the way to the bank, especially since "Welcome" will star Nadiadwala's blue-eyed boy Akshay Kumar with whom the producer is currently putting finishing touches to yet another comedy "Deewane Huey Pagal".

Elaborates Anees: "Like 'No Entry', 'Welcome' will have three heroes. Besides Akshay Kumar I want my favourite Ajay Devgan to play another lead in the film. For the most senior lead I'm keen to have Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan. Like every director it's been my life-long ambition to work with him. I've written the role with Amitji in mind."

"Welcome" will start shooting mid-2006. But before that Anees will complete "Autograph" at a stretch.

"Akshaye Khanna was very keen to work with me again. He has given me dates at a stretch. And I intend to finish the film in two months. We still need to finalise three girls for 'Autograph'.

"I've done several Tamil-Telugu remakes in the past. The core and essence of the original will remain in 'Autograph' but I'll have to do a lot of re-writing in Hindi. However, 'Welcome' is my original script."

Anees is all praise for his "No Entry" producer Boney Kapoor.

"It's said, achche logon ke saath achcha hota hai (Good happens to good people). Boneyji has suffered a lot. And if I've been instrumental in stemming his financial losses then I'm happy about it. I'm definitely making another film for Boneyji with Anil in the lead. Both Boneyji and Anil Kapoor have been very supportive."

So is Anees making a sequel to "No Entry"?

"That's what's been reported in the press. But I'm afraid it isn't yet decided. Boneyji is keen. But I've left it open. I've told him if in two months I can come up with script for a sequel that satisfies me, then we're on. Otherwise we'll scrap the idea.

"I've the faith now to implement my ideas honestly. If I do make the sequel to 'No Entry', it will have the same cast and mood... See, when I decided to make a marital comedy I was sure it wouldn't be vulgar. I wanted to make a comedy that I could watch with my entire family without flinching.

"I think that's the recipe for the success of 'No Entry'. I remember I was shooting a song with Bipasha and Boneyji urged me to make it sexier. I stood my ground. We disagreed then. But now I think Boneyji agrees with my vision of what a successful comedy should be."

There's also talk of Anees doing a sequel to "Mr India" for Boney Kapoor.

"Let me first see if I can devise a sequel to my own film ('No Entry'). Then we'll see about 'Mr India'. I'm glad to have broken the myth that writers cannot be successful directors. I've worked with sixteen writers and directors including the great Mr Raj Kapoor before turning to direction. I'd like to think I know what I'm doing."

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