Exclusive - Meezaan on Hungama 2: Akshay Kumar advised me to blindly copy Priyadarshan

Hungama 2 is finally out on Disney+ Hotstar and it marks the second outing of Meezaan in movies. The actor has teamed up with Paresh Rawal, Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Pranitha Subhash in the film. Ahead of the film's release, OTTPlay caught up with Meezaan for a quick chat. The actor shared his love for the whole team and also clarified that Hungama 2 is not entirely a remake of Priyadarshan's 1994 Malayalam Minnaram.

Excerpts...

It is said that comedy is a tough genre to crack, was it the same for you?

Yeah, definitely. I think comedy is such a genre that it looks easier and it's easier said than done. But, when you actually go to do it, you do realize how difficult it is. I had actors like Paresh (Rawal) ji, Johnny (Lever) sir, Rajpal (Yadav) sir, Shilpa (Shetty Kundra) ma'am and all these people, I had legendary actors around me first of all. They were always supporting me and helping me out with my performance. So that way, I never felt scared or anything because I knew that they're always going to be there for me and they're gonna help me out.  

At the same time, when you have a director like Priyadarshan who is not going to let you go till you deliver what he wants. So, I think, that sort of made me confident that whatever is said and done at the end of the day, they will make me do good work. Obviously, I'll have to give in my 100% it's going to be difficult. But I learned a lot.  

The most important learning of it all was not copying anyone, doing it my own way. At the same time, not thinking anything and just going ahead with a blank mind and doing whatever the director says and just go ahead and do it. Don't think too much because the minute you start thinking too much, then you're finished. 

Does starring in a Priyadarshan movie come with any kind of pressure given that the film is led by not just lead stars but a terrific supporting cast too?

In all honesty, it was all excitement only because for me it's a dream to be a part of a film like this with actors like this and the director Priyadarshan. Bachpan se hi I have seen all their work and I've been a massive fan of all of them. Finally, to be working with them and to finally (have) been given this opportunity so early in my career - it's only my second film and I think it's a Godsend, and I'm super happy that yeh mauka mila. I just hope that people like the film and the work that we've all done. 

While coming on board for Hungama 2 did you know that the film is a remake of Priyadarshan's 1994 Malayalam film Minnaram?

I did but at the same time letting the people know that it's not a remake of the film at all. Just the main plot of the film is the same, but apart from that, it's a completely different film. Priyadarshan has rewritten it because the original is very old and I wasn't even born. He has completely changed the whole film according to today's times and tastes. So I think people are gonna be surprised when they watch the film that it's a completely new film. 

The filmmaker has frequently collaborated with Akshay Kumar in his Hindi movies. Did you speak to the actor before Hungama 2?

I only actually met him once when I went to meet my father (Javed Jaaferi) on the set of Sooryavanshi and Akshay sir was there. I happened to meet him and told him that I am working with Priyadarshan sir. So, he said that he's a wonderful person. He said, 'whatever I've learned with comedy has been because of Priyadarshan. I'll just give you one piece of advice - just blindly follow him, copy him and do exactly as he does.' I didn't realize that at the time, but when I actually went on set, I realize that's exactly what I had to do.  

Priyadarshan is a wonderful actor, I don't know if people have actually seen him acting. When you do you realize that he's one of the best actors we have and he is so funny. I really tried to replicate exactly what he has shown or done because he's so funny and it looks so good on him. But during that process, I learned that just because it's looking so good and funny on him, doesn't necessarily mean it's going to look equally good in my body language. Everyone has their own structure and body language. I think you have to use that and understand that and do it your own way. So whatever Priyan Sir showed me, I did it in my own way and that's what looked good at the end of the day. 

What was your initial reaction to knowing that the film is skipping theatrical release? Does it ease the box office pressure?

I think it does but at the same time, you are upset that the movies are not coming out in theatres because we made the film for the theatres. We would have loved it for the audience too because theatre-going is an experience. The way we've actually shot the film is a visual spectacle and it's really beautiful and the big screen only justifies that. If you watch it on a phone or something, it doesn't really do justice to the kind of visuals we have in the film. So yes, of course, a little sad, but no worries, I think the times are such that everyone understands and I'm glad that we're at least releasing the film. 

Finally, one year later, we were supposed to release it last year. So, finally, the movie is coming out. The purpose of the film is to make people laugh and bring smiles on their faces. Even though it comes out on Hotstar, people will be sitting at home with a family entertainer, you can watch it with any age group and laugh, have a good time and bring a smile to their face. I think that's what our purpose was at the end of the day and that's fulfilled. 

There's a lack of family entertainers in the repertoire of the current generation of actors. What are your thoughts on that?

I think it's high time that we came back with the genre because the whole point of people going to movie theatres is to be entertained. I think comedy is a genre that really goes hand in hand with entertainment. Especially in these times when things are so difficult and sad for everybody. Everybody's dealt with this whole pandemic in one way or the other. I think it's high time that a comedy comes and makes people laugh and makes them feel good. More films like this should definitely be made, which is why I see a lot of people complaining and saying, those times were great. Woh zamaane ke films were awesome and we want that again. So yeah, of course, we need to make movies like that for people to enjoy it more. I think surely, we're getting there. If nobody does, then I'll only bring it, I'll try to do as much of this work as I can. I myself as a moviegoer and as an audience enjoyed these films. So I think it's high time that we gave out to the audience this again. I'm glad that Hungama 2 is coming because recently all the content that's been coming on OTT and theatres have all been very dark and serious. Of course, that's been great and that should come as well. But we need to have all kinds of things and somewhere we need to strike the right balance. And I'll try to do that if I can. 

Will you be up for a web series if offered? Have you been offered any?

I was offered a lot and I said no to all of them because I didn't find any of them as concrete or good. I came into this industry to work in films. I would love to do it and I love the kind of work they're doing but I want to do something that makes me stand out. I want to do something that I love as a concept or a story itself. If I'm going to be doing OTT then I want to take advantage of the platform and do something new or something hatke which I will not be able to properly showcase on screen. 

What do you have to say about the whole OTT censorship debate?

I mean, it's wrong. The whole point is, any artist should have the freedom to portray whatever their vision is, their story is. I don't think we should really put any kind of censorship or blockages in that path and let it flow. If we continue doing that, then there's no point, the whole artistic freedom is gone. We're going to be having very limited kind of work and content that we produce. I think we're going to start going backwards, instead of moving forward. I don't think we should be doing this at all, and it should just be, do whatever you want. But make good stuff and, of course, there's going to be stuff, which is going to be a little inappropriate for certain age groups. So we can then obviously, then title it like that. You make it an adult show, etc, you don't have to remove things from the film.  

To each his own, there is a certain kind of audience who would like to watch that or would want to watch that stuff, whether it's a violent film, sexual film, there are all kinds of content. Of course, I also believe that it may cause a great impact on children. So definitely, I think we have to be warier of how they should be stopped from watching this kind of stuff. So if you put it in the movie theatres, that it's an adult film, then it's an adult film, then the kids obviously can watch it. But obviously, on OTT it becomes difficult because then how do you stop the kids from watching? Today, the exposure has become such that every kid has a mobile phone or iPad or laptop. So even if parents say, No, they still go ahead and watch it.  

I think it's a tricky situation. From the government's point of view, as well and also, from the makers' point of view, how do you balance it out and make it suitable and feasible for everybody? But I think Hollywood's doing it and we should also find the right balance and figure it out. As parents at home, whoever people have guardians at home, those need to be more careful and wary of what the children are doing. That's the only way of keeping a boundary or a line for the children so that they don't cross that and they're not doing something inappropriate.