'I want to work with everyone'

Old association

His simplicity reflects in the way he speaks to everyone. So it’s not a wonder that his latest film seems simple yet hard-hitting.

Director Rumi Jafry, who has earlier directed humourous films like God Tussi Great Ho and ‘Life Partner’, is back with a bang with the Akshaye Khanna-starrer Gali Gali Chor Hai. In the City to promote the film, which hit the screens recently, the director spoke to Metrolife on his association with the film industry.

His association with Akshaye goes back to the days of the 1997-release Aa Ab Laut Chalein, whose script he had written. “It’s been a long time since I last worked with him. But I was just not getting the right role or script for him,” says Rumi. “When I approached him for Gali Gali..., he signed the film in one meeting itself,” he adds.

The movie revolves around a common man’s fight against corruption and the team had held a screening of the film for corruption crusader Anna Hazare recently. But the director is quick to deny that the movie was inspired by Anna. “Every writer and film-maker is inspired by something. Our system is so corrupt that even for simplest of all things, people prefer to bribe,” he opines. “That’s what inspired me to make Gali Gali Chor Hai,”
he adds.  

He is currently paying attention only to Gali Gali... Though there are talks that he is doing his next film with Nitin Manmohan, the producer of Gali Gali..., he can’t speak much about it right now. “My focus is only on the release and promotion of Gali Gali,” he notes.

The film-maker has written the screenplay and dialogues of many hit films like Deewana Mastana, Chalte Chalte, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? and Golmaal Returns. He has even come to Bangalore a number of times for the shooting of some of these films.

“I just love the City. Certain films, which I have written like Waqt Hamara Hai and Deewana Mastana, were shot here. If you remember, the climax of Deewana Mastana with Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Juhi Chawla and Salman Khan was shot in the City,” he informs. 

Quiz him about his association with all the biggest stars in the industry, especially Salman with who he has worked in Judwaa, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and God Tussi... and he smiles modestly, “I have been fortunate to have worked with all the big stars from Rajesh Khanna to Amitabh Bachchan to Salman Khan. But my intention is not to make a film with just Salman or any other star. I want to work with everyone. After all, my job is to make a film, not a proposal with a star,” he signs off.