First Look: Shahid's 'Chance Pe Dance'

Directed by Ken Ghosh, 'Chance Pe Dance' stars Shahid Kapur and Genelia D'Souza. The movie will release on November 6, 2009.

'It is not easy to be a hero for 25 years'

After Partner, Govinda hopes to churn out another hit in Life Partner, directed by writer-turned-director Rumi Jaffery. The film co-starring Fardeen Khan, Genelia D'Souza, Tusshar Kapoor, Prachi Desai and Amrita Rao sees Govinda playing a divorce lawyer.

Patcy N got to talk to him about Life Partner, and his long innings in Bollywood.

What are you trying to convey in your forthcoming film Life Partner?

The film is about how you should be with your life partner, how you should take care of your life partner and work things out together. It is also about the people you meet in your life, and how you should be careful with certain types of people.

I have worked with Rumi Jaffery in Saajan Chale Sasural, Coolie No 1, Hero No 1, Haseena Maan Jayegi, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and now Life Partner. I have given hits with him. And I plan to give a hit with Life Partner too.

You had worked with Rumi Jaffery when he was a writer. But now you are working with him as a director. How was he in his new job?

He has done a fantastic job in this film. I would say the actors were excellent as well. Even Amrita Rao, who stars opposite me in the film, is very good. I am working with her for the first time in this film. She has tremendous confidence. I have seen the film and I think she has done a great job.

I think everything is good about this film because of the script's simplicity. It says very simply: aap pyar ko rishte ka naam dena chahte hai, par jab rishte ko pyaar dena bhool jaate hai toh rishte kharab hojate hai.

Good movie needs emotional director: David Dhawan

One of Bollywood's most successful comedy makers directors, David Dhawan, says a filmmaker has to be emotional to make a good movie. He also admits to getting stressed even now before the release of each of his films.

"If you don't know how to cry or laugh, then you can't understand the audience. The goodness has to be within you to come up with something exciting. A good movie should have the right mix of emotions, backed by a powerful script," Dhawan told us.

Dhawan's upcoming 'Do Knot Disturb' is again a light-hearted romantic comedy that stars Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen. It is scheduled for a September release.

He is also working on another project titled 'Hook Ya Crook' that stars John Abraham, Kay Kay Menon, Shreyas Talpade and Genelia D'Souza.

After teaming up with stars like Govinda, Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan in several hits, Dhawan now wants to make a movie with animals as protagonists.

"I love animals and I want to make one movie with them. I have always wanted to make a movie with animals, but for that you need a trained animal and lots of patience too," said Dhawan, who used a chimpanzee in 'Aankhen' and a dog in 'Biwi No.1'.

He confesses he was under extreme stress before the release of his first hit, 'Shola Aur Shabnam' (1992).

"I must admit that 'Shola Aur Shabnam' was my last chance to prove myself as a director. I had given a series of flops before the film.... and I had no clue what I would do if the movie would fail at the box-office," said Dhawan.

"When the film was released, I was under extreme pressure and nervous too. My condition was so bad that I was shivering and my wife had to give me brandy to put me to sleep. But when I got a call at 5 a.m. from a film critic who told me that my film in not just good but too good and a hit, I was relieved. After that I never looked back," he added.

After the success of the Govinda-Divya Bharati starrer, Dhawan gave a series of hits like 'Saajan Chale Sasural' and 'Deewana Mastana', 'Biwi No.1', 'Jodi No.1', 'Hero No.1' and 'No Entry'.

But even after so many hits, Dhawan gets nervous before the release of his movies.

"For every film of mine, I'm nervous. I hide myself in the editing room because I have raised the level of people's expectations...What bothers me mostly is whether audience will like my movie or not, whether my movie will make them laugh or not.

"Sometimes you have to outdo your own projects," said the director.

Post-'Shola Aur Shabnam', the Dhawan-Govinda combination was seen as a sure shot success at the ticket window. But the director has also churned out hits with other stars like Anil, Salman and Sanjay Dutt.

Akshay suggested the title 'Life Partner': Rumy Jaffrey

Director Rumi Jaffrey denies that Akshay Kumar opted out of "Life Partner" due to a "rift" between them and says it was the star who suggested the film's title.

Akshay was supposed play a divorce lawyer who doesn't believe in the institution of marriage, but was unable to feature in the film due to date problems. Eventually the role went to Govinda.

"All these rumours of a rift between Rumi and Akshay are false. Aki couldn't do the film because of date problems and Rumi is absolutely okay with it. Both parted ways amicably," said a source close to the film.

Added Jaffrey: "It is really funny? Abbas bhai, Mustan bhai and I were struggling for a title. It was almost the case of having it under our nose and not able to see it. When we were in conversation with Akshay for the film, he suggested 'Life Partner' as a title and it just stuck. I couldn't believe it. It was as simple. And we all just loved it and couldn't have thought of a better title."

"Life Partner" is about two couples and their journey through their relationships and also stars Geneila D'Souza, Fardeen Khan, Tusshar Kapoor and Prachi Desai.