Shreyas Talpade’s character in Golmaal Again does not stammer but lisps this time!

When Rohit Shetty created the character of Laxman Prasad Apte in Golmaal3 for Shreyas Talpade he hadn’t bargained for The Indian Stammering Association (TISA), based in Dehradun, sending a legal notice to the producers accusing them of mocking people and asking to delete the scenes where the character stammers. In Golmaal 3, Shreyas’s character is constantly made fun of by Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Khemu and Arshad Warsi. So this time, to avoid any unnecessary trouble, the filmmaker has changed Shreyas’s character in the film and made him lisp instead of stammer in Golmaal Again, the fourth installment of Rohit Shetty franchise, produced by Rohit Shetty Picturez, Reliance Entertainment and Mangal Murti Films.

When quizzed about whether his character still stammers in Golmaal Again Shreyas admits that he does not. “There were certain issues that happened because of the stammering thing in Golmaal 3 and considering all of us are getting sensitive about every little thing that is happening, this time my character does not stammer but there’s another quirk to his character instead. He has got a slight lisp this time.”

Shreyas is currently shooting for the catchy Golmaal title track in Hyderabad along with the rest of the cast. The music director of the film is S Thaman whom Rohit has roped in for the first time, singer is Brijesh Shandilya and the choreographer is Ganesh Acharya. Shreyas says, “We are doing the title track of Golmaal Again in Ramoji Rao Studio in Hyderabad and this is the fourth installment of Golmaal which Rohit wants to make bigger and better. The song is going to be that and nicer with all the gloss and fanfare. I was part of the last two Golmaals and all I can say is that while the dancing was more western in them, this time in Golmaal Again, it is more desi, raw and Indian in flavor and steps. In fact, we are all working together after a gap of seven years so luckily this time the camaraderie and masti is even better. We had a great one shooting this one and we all felt we shouldn’t keep continuing to make more Golmaals.”

Ask Rohit is the same as ever or has he changed in the last nine years and Shreyas disagrees. “Even after giving so many blockbusters, Rohit is is the same as he was in Golmaal Returns. He respects everyone the same as he used to and probably loves his work more than he used to. He was always a workaholic now he’s a bit more than that. Rohit is like wine – he gets better with time so now when I see him directing and what all he’s doing in the film like computer graphics and VX or his vision right now which is so refreshing.”

For Shreyas who turned director with Poster Boys, working with Rohit has been a learning experience. “He works so hard on his films, gives that kind of time not only to the actors but the film also, it’s a great learning process for me now when I am also trying to direct so for me the whole perspective changes. I can see what all he’s going through doing all those things. Earlier as actors I would come on sets and mouth my dialogues and leave but what all goes behind I get a fairly good idea now and Rohit is definitely today, the best that we have. What all he is doing with this film is outstanding.”

According to Shreyas turning a director has changed his perspective of things. “I am a director too I have stopped being judgmental about people and things. I have directed a film myself so I know what all goes into making a film. When you are hands-on with something you know so much more. I can understand if there’s a delay or some glitch somewhere. I can empathize more with Rohit now. I am happiest when I am an actor but I try to learn as much as I can from him. His vision is something else. When you are making a film of that scale and also keeping your audiences in mind, specially families and kids. He understands the pulse of them. Whatever he is today is only because of his hard work, dedication and sincerity. The way he works is outstanding.”