The recently released horror-comedy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 has been a massive success. In fact, its box office collections have been quite impressive and while Kartik Aaryan, Tabu, and Kiara Advani have been getting lots of praises, it is also director Anees Bazmee who is being applauded for bringing such amazing an entertainer to the screen. Turns out that Aneesji has had quite a journey with his film. Recently, when I spoke to him about the film’s success there was a lot that Bazmee had to share.
Read excerpts from his interview here…
Has the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 sunk in?
I will be very honest, it is believable, but yes, I never thought the film will be this successful. I was always confident that we have made a very nice film and that people will love it. But nobody can ever predict how it will do after release, but the love we have received has surpassed my expectations.
Was there pressure while making Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 considering the first part was a hit?
When you make a film, pressure is always there. If you remember Bhool Bhulaiyaa came in 2007, it was a hit, so living up to that expectation especially when you are making a part 2 brings in pressure, what also adds to it is that you have a reputation. Where there are slightly higher expectations and people don’t like it, you receive lot of backlash. I am never spared if a film doesn’t do well, I was trolled a lot for Pagalpanti since it didn’t do well. People remembered that I was coming back after Pagalpanti, but I took a very calculated risk and made sure that I don’t go and make another psychological thriller. I knew I could play on the intrigue element in this film, so I did that, also I made sure that I won’t make a film where there is comparison. So when you make a part 2 you are on an edge, because you have to make a film like that, but still it should not be like that.
Tell me about your experience making a horror comedy.
This was my first horror-comedy, I made a love story before this Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha, I have made a psychological thriller called Deewangi, I have made comedies like No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is King, Ready, etc. but I never made a horror film so I was very excited. But I didn’t want to shoot it in a way that people would get scared and not bring the children to the theatre, that was a big challenge for me. I wanted to make a film that scared the kids, but also got them excited and it could be seen with family. I achieved that reaction and that’s a big thing.
How about working with Tabu, Kartik Aaryan, and Kiara Advani?
I was working with Tabuji for the first time, we have been friends since a long time, we always wanted to work together, so I was also mindful that this was the first time I was bringing Tabuji on screen with my direction so how do I go about it. She always believed in me. I am very happy to have given Kartik Aaryan the biggest hit of his life. I always wanted to work with Kiara also. Everybody on this film has contributed to its success.
What’s the next plan now that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 has been successful?
I will start work on No Entry Mein Entry if all goes well. It has 10 girls with Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan and Salman Khan.
I am totally looking forward to this epic comedy coming our way and to seeing glimpses of the No Entry sequel super soon.