Hera Pheri Was 'Frame-To-Frame' Copy, REVEALS Priyadarshan; Explains Why He's Most Comfortable Working With Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar

Priyadarshan

says even when he's remaking a film, he makes sure not to let his actor watch the original one to avoid imitation. The legendary filmmaker, who's delivered dozens of classic Malayalam movies, and remade many of them into equally unforgettable Hindi films, opened up about his process. He claims that even though he has the closest comfort collaborating with Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar, he is open to working with other actors too.In an interview with Pinkvilla, Priyadarshan said, "I was very happy working with Shah Rukh, Govinda. I never had any problem. I don't say that they are bad actors or anything. The only thing is I was very comfortable with Mohanlal and Akshay."

Method of remaking film from Malayalam to Hindi

Priyadarshan is the force behind memorable films like Hera Pheri, Hungama, Hulchul, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Chup Chup Ke, Dhol, De Dana Dan, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Infact, many of them were remakes. "I never show the original film to the actor. I made a mistake a couple of times when I was making films from Malayalam to Telugu. I showed Mohanlal and they tried to imitate it. That doesn't work. Everybody has different body language, a different way of talking. So if Mohanlal has done it with his best, Akshay will do it differently," he said.According to him, not everyone can remake. "Fortunately, I grew up watching the Hindi films of 70s. So I was very familiar with the Hindi film industry through the films that I saw. So I try to adapt," he shared.

Keeping soul of original intact

Giving example of Akshay's Bhool Bhulaiyaa, which is a remake of Mohanlal's Manichitrathazhu, Priyadarshan explained what happens if a filmmaker copy the film as it is. "If you see Manichitrathazhu and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, both have different cultures, different backdrops, and different characters. I never remake a film as it is. I always change it. 90% of the remakes are from flops. Because I have seen many South films when remade in Hindi, looks like South films. It doesn't look like a Hindi film. You cannot lose the soul of the original film and make the changes," he explained."So, I mentally decided that I have not made this film with Mohanlal. I was making a fresh film with Akshay. I accept the way he performs it. I never compare two actors. I'm judging from here in the camera. So as long as my judgment is right with actors, I feel it's a new film. I don't even follow the choreography of the shooting in a remake. I even changed that," Priyadarshan added.

Hera Pheri was frame-to-frame copy

Revealing a major detail about his cult-classic Hera Pheri, starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty, a remake of Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), Priyadarshan said the Hindi film was his only remake, which he copied frame-to-frame from the original. "Even its dialogues weren't written, they were only translated. It's not even copied from Ramji Rao Speaking. Infact, even that was a remake of the original See the Man Run, a 1971 TV film."ALSO READ: Priyadarshan Blames 'Bad Forces' For Hera Pheri 3 Controversy; Claims Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar NEVER Had An IssueAlthough Hera Pheri 3 remains in limbo due to Paresh Rawal walking out, Priyadarshan has his conditions for returning to direct it. "I won't do a third film until and unless I can crack a film which could do justice to the first one. I'll ensure that it is tolerable for those who watch the first part. If a good script doesn't turn out to my conviction, I won't do it," he said.