A scheduled world premiere for Welcome Back in Dubai this week was called-off at the last minute. The film’s promoters say the stars are caught up with promotional activities across India, and therefore can’t make it. Whatever the case may be, the film is still releases this weekend, according to producers.
The comedy, about a bumbling family of gangsters, is a sequel to the 2007 hit Welcome. This one stars Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and Paresh Rawal, who are reprising their roles, while new cast members include John Abraham, Shruti Haasan and Shiney Ahuja.
Here’s what the stars have to say about the film and about each other:
No reviews for John Abraham
John Abraham has a simple way of tackling comments by film critics — he doesn’t have newspapers at home and doesn’t read their views on his movies. He says it is human nature to be affected by criticism, but feels he has now matured enough to understand whose views really matter.
The Madras Cafe actor, who was in New Delhi on Tuesday to promote Welcome Back, said that he stopped getting the newspaper delivered to his home 13 years ago.
“Earlier when I started my career... you need to remember I am a human being firstly... at that time I used to react, but it has been about 13 years and I don’t have newspapers in the house. So in a way, it works for me,” Abraham told reporters.
“I don’t need reviews to tell me how a film is. When people from my fraternity congratulated me for Madras Cafe and I got appreciation from the audience, it was enough... So, I don’t react [to criticism],” added the actor-producer.
He, however, pointed out that critics need to realise the hard work that goes behind every project.
Talking specifically about Welcome Back, he said: “You need to understand that we have also worked very hard to make you all laugh... after all, comedy is a serious business for us. Please respect that.”
Abraham even said that reviews for Welcome were not favourable when it released. But it continues to be one of the most loved Bollywood comedies of the past decade.
Welcome Back is directed by Anees Bazmee.
Important film for producer
Veteran actor Anil Kapoor on Tuesday said the Hindi film industry will lose a “good” producer in Firoz A Nadiadwala if their upcoming film Welcome Back does not work at the box-office.
“It is a very important film for my producer Firoz Nadiadwala. We have other projects, but this is important for him. If the film flops, then he will face a big loss and we will lose a good producer,” Kapoor told reporters on Tuesday while promoting the film.
The 58-year-old actor, who reprises his role of gangster Majnu Bhai from the original, said the film is a clean, family entertainer.
“There are no double meanings in the movie. Definitely, it is not a great film. But it is a fun, happy movie and should be viewed like that.
“We wanted to come to Delhi and focus on India. The organisers there have taken the decision themselves as well as the people from Dubai. They said, ‘Don’t come’. We were happy as we had not covered a few cities in India.”
Kapoor, who acted with the late Feroz Khan in the original film, said he missed the actor.
“I miss him every moment, not only while shooting because he directed me in Janbaaz. After my film Mashaal (1984), Subhash Ghai and Feroz Khan signed me for Meri Jung and Janbaaz, which changed my career. I was a newcomer then.
“[Feroz] was a real pathan but had a heart of gold. He was like a child, a warm person. I feel very blessed to have worked with him as a filmmaker and as an actor.”
Why Shiney Ahuja is back
Bazmee says he did not think about all the controversy surrounding Shiney Ahuja when he was casting the actor.
In 2009, Ahuja was accused of rape by his former domestic help.
“I do not know anything more than movie making. I thought that in the film I need [Ahuja] and he can do justice to the role. Apart from that I did not think about anything else,” Bazmee said from Mumbai.
“I did not think about what will be the reaction... I did not think about all of that because the decisions I take are only for the films. I am a filmmaker and I do not need to think about anything more than that,” he added.
The cast of the film is currently busy promoting the film minus Ahuja.
“When we started the promotions, Shiney was not in India. He was out and he just came back. Shiney is doing his level best to promote the film. But I think that the planning for the movie promotions are done by the producer and the promotional team they decide,” Bazmee said.
Talking about Ahuja’s role in the film, Bazmee said he will be seen playing the spoilt son of Naseeruddin Shah, who plays a blind gangster named Wanted Bhai in the film
“I took him [Ahuja] purely because there would be a demand for such a role in the film... and he did a good job,” he said.
Welcome Back is scheduled to release in the UAE on September 3.