“I am not nervous, I am pleasantly excited,” Farhad Samji speaks on the release of Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan – Times of India

Farhad Samji is in the eye of the storm, as his big-ticket film, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is up for release this Eid. But the pressure of helming a Salman Khan movie hasn’t rattled or fazed Farhad. Instead, he’s kept his cool and is confident that his family entertainer will please both the average movie buff as well as Bhai’s fans with equal ease. Farhad also fields the difficult question of directing Hera Pheri 4 and the concerted effort from fans of the franchise to not have him in the director’s chair. Read on…
Just days away from the release of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, are you nervous?

Am I nervous? No, not really! I am pleasantly excited. The release feels like a likeable burden. Woh hota hai na, ek maa nau mahine bachche ko pet mein palti hai. The pregnancy is over. Now it’s time for the delivery.
And have you delivered what audiences’ expect?

I’d like to think so. Fulfilling Salman Khan’s audiences’ expectations is not easy. They want to see their Bhaijaan as a true hero. But for me, living up to the audiences’ expectations came afterwards. First there was the story and screenplay. I did my best to tell the story that I had to. And then I made sure that I did full justice to my star’s image and what his fans expect. Pehle khana banaate hain phir ussey thaali mein khubsoorati se paroste hain. First comes the content, then the presentation.

Do you think Salman’s fans will go home happy this Eid?

I would like to think so. Shall I tell you something? This is my first film where I feel so satisfied with what I’ve done. I saw the complete film with my entire team and I felt this is what I had set out to make.

That’s good to hear. How much has Salman contributed to the film’s direction, editing etc?

A lot. And why shouldn’t he? He is not just the leading man. He is also the producer. And a hands-on producer. He is a keen student of cinema. He knows about every department of cinema. And why only him? Every technician on the team has contributed to the final shape of the film, whether it is my DOP V Manikandan or my editor Mayuresh Sawant, everyone has contributed to the final content of our film. It’s a film about a family and we made it as a family. Yeh mili-juli family ki tarah hai.

How much of the original Tamil film Veeram have you retained in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan?

I wouldn’t call it a remake. Nor would I call it an adaptation. I would say it is a completely new experience. We’ve made our film as we thought it should be made. Those who have seen Veeram would see our film as an independent experience.

You are identified with the comedy genre. Does that bother you?

Why should it? If I am identified with laughter, joy and happiness, isn’t that a blessing? To make people happy is a gift. Having said this, I have written scripts for serious dramatic films. But comedy is the genre I am identified with. And as David Dhawanji told me, ‘When the car is running smoothly, why open the bonnet?’

You are going to be directing Hera Pheri 4. There are people out there who don’t want you to.

You mean, they don’t want me to direct it? Yeah, even I’ve heard this. I’ve been asked this question by some journalists. My answer is simple. There has been no official announcement about it. So why talk about it now? Jab hoga tab dekhenge.