The man of great mirth worth on his 'chic' new film

Mumbai, July 16 (IANS) The pasha of entertainment, David Dhawan, tells an interesting story on how he 'discovered' Katrina Kaif for his new entertainer "Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya".

"Salman and I were sitting together when Katrina walked in. I exclaimed, 'What a lovely child!' She's by far the best-looking heroine to have entered the film industry in recent times."

Isn't David unhappy that Ram Gopal Varma has stolen the thunder of reintroducing Katrina? "No, no!" he protests. "Why should I be unhappy about Katrina being in 'Sarkar'? She had a small role. But everyone liked her performance and looks. She's here to stay."

As for Sushmita who plays the nurse's role in David's own version of "Cactus Flower", the director was sure he wanted none but Sush for the part. "She was my first and last choice for the nurse's role."

The mention of Salman lights up David's demeanour. "He's such a great friend. All my films with him, from 'Biwi No 1' to 'Judwaa' to 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi' have been hits. Hopefully 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya' will also join the gang. It's a very young chic film... younger than 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'. Very chilled out.

"I banked on youth for success in 'Mujhse Shaadi...' And now this film as well. Although the hero is the same, the girls, the film's look and plot are completely different. So those who are saying 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya' is an extension of my earlier film are barking up the wrong tree. I'd say I've gone steps ahead. If 'Mujhse Shaadi...' marked the reinvention of David Dhawan, then 'Maine Pyar...' marks my growth in my new phase."

As usual David sounds totally in control. "I'm very charged, very upbeat about the kind of films I'm making now."

Were the female lead and the film's title Salman's idea? "Not at all! I wanted them both in my film. The title seems so apt for the film's plot. It gives a sense of immediate and easy identification with the hero. Salman's 'Maine Pyar Kiya' may have come 15 years ago. But no one has forgotten it. Both Salman and I have come a long way. I can't believe 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya' is my 37th film! And I've just completed my 38th film 'Shaadi No. 1'. In fact, I just saw it last night. It's looking really young."

As David grows older, his cinema seems to be getting younger. "I feel I've rediscovered my youth. I think I've come a long way in terms of technique. But finding story writers is becoming a problem," says the man of great mirth worth.

Suddenly David gets nostalgic about his favourite hero. "I've missed working with Govinda lately. We're definitely doing a film together very soon. Govinda may be going through a lean patch. Even I've gone through that. But talent like his cannot be kept down."

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Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya