Priyadarshan on Comedy: 'I Hate Shooting Comedies' After Hera Pheri Success

Filmmaker Priyadarshan, known for some of Bollywood’s most popular comedy films, has said he does not enjoy shooting comedies despite the genre becoming closely associated with his career. Ahead of his upcoming film Haiwaan, the director reflected on how the success of Hera Pheri changed the way the Hindi film industry viewed him. He said the 2000 film shifted him from serious storytelling towards a long run of comedy projects.

Priyadarshan began his Hindi film career with serious dramas and earned recognition for films such as Gardish and Virasat. However, the success of Hera Pheri established him as a prominent comedy filmmaker and significantly influenced the kind of projects he was subsequently offered. Between 2001 and 2021, he directed 20 Hindi films, with 16 described as light-hearted comedies, further strengthening his association with the genre.

Speaking about that phase of his career, Priyadarshan said the success of Hera Pheri ultimately made it difficult for him to move away from comedy. He recalled that after the film, the industry repeatedly expected him to make similar movies. While acknowledging the popularity of those films, he said he personally became tired of working in the same genre for an extended period and wanted to return to stories that offered him a different creative experience.

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The filmmaker also explained his approach to humour in films. He said he prefers comedy to emerge naturally from the characters and situations rather than relying on forced jokes, gags or separate comedy tracks. According to Priyadarshan, his characters are generally meant to take their situations seriously, while the circumstances surrounding them create humour for the audience. He also said he dislikes performances that depend heavily on exaggerated facial expressions.

Priyadarshan said his decision to make Haiwaan was partly driven by his desire to return to serious storytelling. He explained that although comedy became his signature in the eyes of the industry, he does not want to be restricted to one particular style or genre. The director said he enjoys making serious films and deliberately chose Haiwaan as an opportunity to explore that side of his filmmaking after years of working extensively in comedy.

Haiwaan features Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles, with Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi and Jisshu Sengupta also part of the cast. The film marks another attempt by Priyadarshan to move beyond the comedy label that became attached to his career after Hera Pheri. It is scheduled to release on September 11, bringing his return to serious storytelling to the big screen.

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