Funny bones

Actors Arshad Warsi and Riteish Deshmukh help each other perfect their comic timing, but are not ready for stand-up acts.

It’s almost impossible to get Arshad Warsi and Riteish Deshmukh to remain serious in each other’s presence. And when they’re shooting together, even the crew has a tough time concentrating.

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But the actors, who are part of Vashu Bhagnani’s next production FALTU, credit all that humour to working together, which they feel helps perfect their comic timing.

Warsi says, “Riteish and I are a riot when we’re working together. We’re constantly cracking jokes and pulling each other’s legs. As an actor, to be able to work with someone who you’re compatible with and have good comic timing is a huge advantage. And when you know that there’s no ego on either side, you can actually translate the fun you’re having off-screen on to the screen.”

The duo, who are also shooting for Dhamaal 2 on the side, will be seen playing professors in this film, which revolves around a bunch of students who are rebelling against the system of education in India.

Deshmukh, whose character in the film is unlike what he has played in films such as Dhamaal (2007) and Heyy Babyy (2007) brings a lot to the scene. Sometimes he’ll just throw a line in a certain way and I learn from that. He’s a good teacher,” says Warsi.

But both the actors, who have been appreciated for their respective comic roles in movies like Munnabhai MBBS and Housefull, don’t feel they’ve mastered the art enough to branch out into stand-up comedy.

“Stand-up comedy? No way!” says Warsi, adding, “That is incredibly difficult and I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that.”

FALTU also stars Jackky Bhagnani, Puja Gupta, Angad Bedi and Chandan Roy Sanyal of Kaminey fame. It will be choreographer Remo’s first Hindi film as director.