Golmaal Returns director Shetty’s fourth film has pocketed Rs 720 million (Rs 72 crores) worldwide in the opening week and the director is on Cloud 9. Shetty is looking forward to celebrate his film’s success when Kareena Kapoor, Celina Jaitely, Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade come back to India from their respective shootings.

With what objective did you set out to make Golmaal Returns and after the film was complete how far you think it was achieved?
While writing Golmaal Retruns, my team and I had an objective of making a film for the mass audience and I think, for the first time we have achieved 100 percent. Golmaal also faired very well and received critical acclaim too, but it wasn’t a blockbuster movie. So while writing Golmaal Returns we thought we should keep the masses and single screens in mind as well.

And we hit the jackpot, I believe!

But what prompted you to make a film for the mass audience?
It was a big risk that we took, especially after Golmaal had received three stars in reviews. We knew reviewers would trash us for Golmaal Returns, but we were very clear about making a film for the masses. It is not possible to please critics and audience both.

I spoke to a lot of distributors and asked them why Phir Hera Pheri and Singh Is Kinng were doing such good business. They said it was because those films are targeted at the mass audience and by catering to them you break all records.

Do you Golmaal Returns would have received an equally overwhelming response had it not been for the holiday period release?
I think it would have made a little difference but the fact is that our target audience has lapped up the film. When the film opened well on Wednesday people said it was because of the holiday. Then on Thursday too people said that the movie is doing well because of the holiday. On Friday, when the movie opened in single screens people said it would drop then, but it still did not. Then people said it will dip on Saturday, but again it did not. On Monday too it was 50 – 60 percent.

What has Kareen Kapoor’s reaction been to the movie?
She is in Dubai and keeps forwarding me SMSes of the movie’s collections. When we narrated the script to Kareena, she knew it was not a Jab We Met for her, but she said it is a super hit film. In fact, she was the first person to tell me that the movie is a blockbuster and this is what is working now and I want to be a part of this film.

However, Arshad Warsi is highly miffed…
Till one day before the release he was there with me in a Diwali party and then I don’t know what happened to him. There are eight characters in the film, so it’s not a single person’s film. While we were shooting the movie, Ajay had said that the first favourite in the film will be Tusshar, and then Shreyas. If Arshad is feeling bad, then I think even Ajay should have felt bad that he is not there in the second half of the film.

And what about the case filed by the producers of Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar. Isn’t Golmaal Returns Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar meets No Entry?
(Laughs) No Entry is also a copy of a South film. Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar is actually made from a British play called Merry Go Round. The play was made in Marathi and Gujrati and then remade in both the languages again, and then later Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar movie was made. My team member Vikas Kadam had seen the play and knew about the movie as well, but I hadn’t seen that movie. Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar has acknowledged the plays and we too wanted to acknowledge the plays and take their rights, but somehow it did not fall in place. So I knew that films had similar plot points.

The producers have not yet sent a legal notice to my producer. But it’s okay because 50 out of 100 films have to face this.

A lot of people also felt that Golmaal Returns lacked that punch that Golmaal had. Comment.
The storyline of Golmaal returns was deliberately thin and these kinds of stories have been working off late in movies like Phir Hera Pheri, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng. From a director’s perspective, yes, Golmaal is beyond Golmaal Returns, but if you look at the business it’s almost double.

Currently what ideas are brewing for Golmaal 3?
We do have an idea in mind. We kept it ready thinking that if Golmaal Returns works, then we can look at it. But it will take at least six – seven months to write the whole script. I will need all the four boys definitely and Pareshji’s character too will be there.

Will Arshad be a part of the Golmaal 3?
I don’t know, I will have to wait for my anger to calm down. I cannot be diplomatic.

What other films are you planning right now?
I am just deciding what to work on next and in a month’s time I will be able to finalize. I am making two movies for Devgan Films; one will star Ajay and other will have newcomers. I am also making two movies for Shree Ashtavinayak including Golmaal 3.

We have ideas in mind and are evaluating if we want one star in reviews and Rs 100 crores collections or balance both equally (laughs).

After Golmaal, Sunday and Golmaal Returns would you want to stick to the comedy films genre?
Yes, I think that is the best and the safest genre for me. It is working well for me so I will definitely stick to it.

Will you be open to making movies for other producers if you receive offers?
I have not received any offers only (laughs). I think, everyone knows I am making Golmaal 3. Yes, but if I get an offer I will have to see, because I already have commitments with Devgan Films and Ashtavinayak and I am happy working with them.