'Hera Pheri made my life miserable; I hate making comedies': Priyadarshan talks changing gears with Haiwaan | Interview
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Renowned director Priyadarshan has revealed that his iconic cult-classic comedy 'Hera Pheri' made his life miserable. He is now pivoting away from the comedy genre to focus on serious cinema with his upcoming project, 'Haiwaan'.
The Paradox of Success: Priyadarshan’s Comedic Burden
In a candid revelation that has stunned fans of Indian cinema, director Priyadarshan has expressed a deep-seated disdain for the process of creating comedy films. Despite Hera Pheri (2000) being widely regarded as a tour de force of the genre—starring stalwarts like Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal—the filmmaker has described the production as a period that made his life "miserable." This statement highlights the often-overlooked psychological toll that creative labor can exert on a director when the final product, no matter how beloved, deviates from their personal artistic inclinations.
Transitioning Away from the Laughter
For years, Priyadarshan was synonymous with the comedic aesthetic that defined a massive era of Bollywood. While his roots were firmly planted in Malayalam cinema, where he frequently collaborated with the legendary Mohanlal, his shift toward Hindi comedy was marked by the massive commercial and critical success of Hera Pheri. However, this success appears to have become a double-edged sword. By his own admission, the director is now actively distancing himself from the genre, signaling a permanent change in his career trajectory.
The Shift to 'Haiwaan'
This shift is embodied in his upcoming Hindi project, Haiwaan. By choosing to move toward 'serious' cinema, Priyadarshan is attempting to reclaim a creative identity that predates his comedy-centric Bollywood fame. It is worth noting that his early Hindi filmography, including titles like Muskurahat (1992) and Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998), consisted primarily of dramas. Haiwaan serves as a return to those roots, suggesting that the director finds greater professional satisfaction in exploring darker, more complex thematic landscapes than in the lighthearted narratives that made him a household name.
Historical Context and Artistic Evolution
To understand this pivot, one must look at the trajectory of his career. Hera Pheri was a remake of the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, and while it catapulted Priyadarshan to the pinnacle of Bollywood success, it also seemingly locked him into a cycle of comedy. Directors often struggle with 'genre-typing,' where the industry and audiences demand a specific type of output based on past hits. Priyadarshan’s current stance suggests a desire to break free from these industry-imposed expectations and pursue projects that resonate with his current artistic sensibilities.
Future Trends in Filmmaking
As veterans of the industry like Priyadarshan seek to reinvent their portfolios, it challenges the audience's perception of auteurship. The rejection of a film as iconic as Hera Pheri suggests that for the creator, the process of filmmaking is far more significant than the legacy left behind. As he moves forward with Haiwaan, the success or failure of this 'serious' venture will be closely watched by critics and fans alike, serving as a litmus test for whether a director can successfully pivot after decades of being defined by a single, highly successful genre.
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