Filmmaker Indra Kumar has one simple aim — to tell a good story and make it a family affair. Comedy, he believes, is the genre that fits the bill. As cinemagoers return to theatres, he believes there is a renewed appetite for light-hearted, feel-good films. “We had a great subject. So I thought we must make it. And if you can laugh with the family, that’s a better option,” says the director as the fourth instalment of Dhamaal hit screens on July 10. The goodwill that came his way before the release reinforced his belief. “Everybody wanted it. I got positive vibes from the whole industry this time.”
Indra Kumar
Having spent over three decades directing high-energy, crowd-pleasing entertainers, Kumar acknowledges that comedy is a difficult genre. To ensure audiences laugh along with the film, he has a trick up his sleeve. “Comedy is something you have to have in you. You have to enjoy [the humour] while filming it. Also, [it’s a genre] that inspire actors to do all the things they are unlikely to do in real life,” notes the filmmaker of the Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, and Jaaved Jaaferi-starrer.
Riteish Deshmukh and Anjali Anand in ‘Dhamaal 4’
Kumar says the Dhamaal films have endured because of the ensemble cast’s chemistry. He credits Devgn’s deadpan humour and the camaraderie among the actors, which translates effortlessly on screen. “Ajay, who has got the dignity and poise to match, can carry off a comedy effortlessly. He is one of the most versatile actors we know. In today’s time, he can do both a Tanhaji (2020) and Dhamaal, followed by a Singham, Shaitaan [2024], and Drishyam with so much ease. It’s a great quality. The kind of variety Ajay does is amazing,” shares the director.
On the fat jokes
Since ‘Dhamaal 4’ released on Friday, its fat-shaming jokes aimed at Anjali Anand have drawn criticism. Indra Kumar says audiences will understand the context when they watch the film. “I really loved Anjali, and she was very happy with the role. She has done an excellent job. The humour has context within the story and the character arc gives those jokes meaning rather than reducing her to them,” he says.
Did you know?
The OG ‘Dhamaal’ (2007) is based on the 1963 American epic comedy film ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’
