Shooting comedy not funny for Bhandarkar

MUMBAI - Madhur Bhandarkar is shooting for “Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji”, the first comedy of his career, but things are far from funny in his real life at the moment.

Just when “Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji” began shooting this month after delays due to monsoon, the director’s mother was hospitalised. The director had to shuttle between Hinduja hospital and his set in Andheri.

The director’s problems don’t end there. On Thursday one precious day of shooting had to be cancelled because the set had to be re-designed.

As if coping with an one crisis was not enough, his leading man Ajay Devgn had to leave for a promotional tour of “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai” on Saturday leaving Bhandarkar’s comedy bereft of its main character.

“Ajay has to leave for Delhi and Kolkata for his promotion. And shooting got cancelled on Thursday. So I’ve just one day to finish his work for this schedule. Luckily, Ajay is a quick actor. He doesn’t waste time on the sets,” said Bhandarkar.

Shooting funny scenes with one’s mom in the hospital is not easy.

“Luckily, ‘Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji’ is not a slapstick comedy. The mood on the sets is subtle. If everyone had to constantly scream, shout and whoop it up, I don’t know how I’d have coped,” said Bhandarkar.

The one good thing that has come out of the gloomy week of illness, cancellation and other glitches is Bhandarkar’s bonding with Ajay.

The director can’t stop raving about the actor. “Ajay is so hassle free and chilled out. He is effortless on the sets. I want to work immediately again with him.”