David Dhawan and Govinda’s last film together was Mukta Arts’ Ek Aur Ek Gyarah in 2003. After that if Govinda was more focused on politics, Dhawan made films such as Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya and Shaadi No. 1 without him.
The duo has now come together in a film called Partner, which releases in July.

A journey that started with Taaqatwar in 1989 has been successful with hits such as Swarg, Shola Aur Shabnam, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1 and amongst others. So Partner must be special for Dhawan?

“I trust Govinda and know what he is best at,” says Dhawan over phone from Mumbai, adding that Govinda too understands the director.

But doesn’t Dhawan feel that the actor’s real potential hasn’t been tapped yet? “He is underrated because we don’t give enough importance to comedies. But it happens to be the most popular genre,” he reasons.

Dhawan gives credit to Salman Khan, one of the two heroes of Partner, for roping in Govinda for the film. He adds that though his film starring Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutt is a comedy, it promises “something new”. The director of Partner is committed to entertainment.

“My films are for the classes as well as the masses. Both the youth and the elderly can enjoy them,” says Dhawan. The success of his style, which he feels is “copied by everybody”, is in the correct balance of feelings. “There should be elements of emotion even in comedy,” is his diktat.

The king of comedy rates director Rajkumar Hirani of Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai fame highly — “His comedy is unique as it has many shades.”

Ask him to list the actors who can tickle the funny bone best and he names Govinda, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Sharmaan Joshi and Akshay Kumar. The chat’s over and we hang up.

Two minutes later the phone rings. “I forgot to mention Mithun Chakraborty who is fantastic,” Dhawan signs off.