"When you have big stars you tend to override certain things. But there has to be a grain of sensibility in the narrative and the screenplay of the film" – Feroze Nadiadwala 
By Faridoon Shahryar, May 31, 2007 - 11:29 IST
He is a producer who believes in good, clean, quality cinema that entertains and yet not compromises on quality of narration. With films like Hera Pheri and Awara Pagal Deewana
behind him Feroze Nadiadwala is excited about his next production Fool N Final starring Sunny Deol, Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia, Vivek Oberoi, Sameera Reddy, Johny Lever and Paresh
Rawal. In this interview he talks about his future production plans, experience of shooting with Mike Tyson in Las Vegas and why he has kept the title of one of his films Hera Pheri- 4.
Fool N Final is releasing…As a producer how do you evaluate the film?
It’s a fun film. Some very good stunts with Shahid, Vivek, Sunny. Some good action. Some very good comic situations. Black humour with Mr Paresh Rawal and Mr Johny Lever. Clean, fun,
entertaining film, lots of thrills and good music. Himesh has done a brilliant job on music. Ahmed has directed the film in a very competent manner. We’ve tried our best…let’s see…let’s wait
for Friday….
In other words it’s a typical Feroze Nadiadwala full-on commercial flick?
I don’t know what a typical Feroze Nadiadwala film is….we make clean, entertaining, movies, bright, glamourous with fun, thrills, stunts and basic sensibilities. If you are making insensible
films, you have to be very sensible about it. We try not to make comedy movies. It’s black humour where people are in serious situations but audience laughs. The characters, or stars can not
do comedy, then it’s buffoonery. If for any reason, the audience would laugh in this movie because the characters are serious, the situations are scary but what they do and what they say is
what is going to make audience laugh.
What was your reaction when you heard the title Fool N Final?
I liked it. I immediately reacted to it in a positive manner. I said it’s fine. According to me its fun title. It’s a nice title.
Lot of funky get-ups like the Superman get up that Shahid is sporting…
We are trying. We have put all our efforts. Now let’s see. You know how the movies are. You have to wait for Friday. The audience can fry you. (laughs)
Even the action director of Gladiator had second thoughts about going on a 100 feet high platform suspended in mid air over the sea. But
Sunny was confident
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Ayesha Takia seems to be doing a role suiting her age and she seems to be doing well for herself…
Remarkable girl. Very Very professional. Very polite. Very disciplined. She has a great future ahead of her. Very nice people basically. Both parents are very nice. Very decent. The girl is very
talented, focused.
Did you have any apprehensions about backing Ahmed khan with a failure like Lakeer behind him?
That is behind him. We have to always look forward to the future.
Vivek Oberoi seems to be happening once again after Shootout At Lokhandwala…
Great. I think he is one of The best actors we have in India. One of THE best. I think he has got a tremendous future. And I have great hope and faith in him.
The exotic locations are always the USP of a Feroze Nadiadwala Production. What is your favourite location from Fool N Final?
In this movie there’s a fight sequence with Sunny in mid air…It was risky and dangerous. Some of the specialists that Ahmed called for…one guy who has done action sequences for
Gladiator…even he had second thoughts about going 100 feet high platform suspended in mid air over the sea. But Sunny…he didn’t say anything…he was very confident….and he
encouraged other people to go up….that was a good location and a risky location….and the action had come out very well. Sunny was very helpful, very encouraging. And the action was
meticulously planned between Allan Amin and Ahmed. Good job.
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Mike Tyson’s presence in the film…
My brother Mushtaq suggested… he said that since Sunny is an unlicensed boxing fighter in the movie we can get Mike Tyson for the movie….and we worked on it and Mashallah it
worked….
Mike is known to be temperamental…how was your experience with him?
He is huge. I’ve seen it in Las Vegas. People of all ages, elderly people, teenage, youngsters running towards him out of love, affection and respect….I’ve seen mothers give their young child
in his arms to take a photo. And I’ve seen Mike oblige, be kind and humble with everyone. It was not an experience, it was a revelation. It was great. The great man is highly disciplined, very
focused…very respectful.
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I’ve seen mothers give their young child in Tyson’s arms to take a photo. And I’ve seen Mike oblige
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Tyson is reportedly under a lot of debt….what kind of remuneration did he receive for his services?
Remuneration was secondary for us. What was important was to be able to find an opportunity where we can work with him. And that God willing worked out.
There have been reports that you’ve been getting calls from the Underworld…
It happens…its ok…
Alright…what is the USP of Fool N Final and why do you think people should watch it?
It’s a clean family entertainer….we try as a company not to have any double meaning or crass dialogues, no blood or any kind of cheap dresses or vulgar dance movements. We make a
conscious effort to avoid all these things in our movies as a production. And plus we try to make sure that there is a very visible sensibility in the narration of the film. Sometimes what
happens is that when you have big stars you tend to override certain things. But there has to be a certain grain of sensibility in the narrative and the screenplay of the film.
What are your future projects?
We have nice projects lined up. At least five movies for the coming year. Anees Bazmee’s movie Welcome is releasing in the next few months. Then Anees Bazmee is directing Hera Pheri –
4. Then we have Prakash Jha, Ahmed Khan, Rumi Jaffrey and two more projects which are almost finalized.
Hera pheri part-4…what happened to part third?
There is no Hera Pheri-3. That is the Hera Pheri (laughs). We want people to ask what happened to Hera Pheri – 3. That will create response and curiosity. That in itself is a marketing
attempt.
Why do you think Hera Pheri as a brand or franchise has clicked with masses so much?
Clean, black and sensible humour. The narrative has to be sensible. The movie is a direct reflection of the people who are making it. No questions should be asked after the movie releases.
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