After fun titles like No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng and No Problem, trust writer-director Anees Bazmee to come up with Thank You next. That’s what the filmmaker is calling his Akshay Kumar-Sonam Kapoor starrer.

Currently in Lonavala, writing the script, Bazmee says that it’s important for the title to ‘connect’ with the audience. “The words ‘Thank You’ give out positive vibes. And are familiar to not just city yuppies, but also those living in small towns and villages,” he points out. “Welcome and No Problem are also commonly used words.”

It is surprising to see a 40-plus Akshay Kumar being paired with a 20-something Sonam Kapoor. Bazmee attributes his choice of actors to his script. “Akshay has a different look in the film. And after I saw Sonam in Delhi 6, I knew she suited the role best,” argues the writer-director.

He denies that Anil Kapoor who is producing No Problem, had anything to do with Sonam’s casting. “Anil is family. But he was pleasantly surprised when I told him that I wanted to sign Sonam for Thank You,” he says about roping in the Kapoor kudi for the his romcom.

Message-oriented
As opposed to his last few films, Thank You will convey a message. “But it’s too early to reveal any details since we are yet to start shooting. Wait till the film is ready,” says Bazmee.

Besides these films, Bazmee has given two stories to producer Firoz Nadiadwala, for whom he directed Welcome. One of them is Hera Pheri 4. He also dismisses talk of Sanjay Dutt replacing Akshay Kumar in the next Hera Pheri movie. “Everything depends on Akshay and Firoz, if they mutually agree to certain terms and conditions, we’ll go ahead with the film soon. Otherwise, there’s another script I’ve written for Firoz. Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) could be in that one,” he says.

Considering that No Entry, Welcome, No Problem and Thank You, are all fun movies, one wonders if Bazmee, who wrote films like Swarg and directed the thriller Deewaangee, is getting stuck with comedy. The writer-director reasons, “After Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha, I was told only to make love stories. But It’s My Life, with Harman Baweja and Genelia D’Souza, is my only romantic film since. It will be releasing in June. After Deewangee, I was told to make more thrillers. But I made No Entry instead, and now I’m told to make only comedies,” he laughs.

“I write a script depending on what idea grabs me at the moment. Let’s see what sparks off my interest next.”