Arbaaz Khan: ‘Dolly ki Doli is a drama comedy and a fun entertainer’

We catch up with Arbaaz Khan, who was in Dubai to promote the Indian Property Show.

Arbaaz Khan inaugurating the 15th edition of the Indian Property Show that opened in Dubai World Trade Centre. Reem Mohammed / The National

Arbaaz Khan – filmmaker, actor, producer and brother of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan – was in Dubai over the weekend to inaugurate the Indian Property Show as its newly appointed brand ambassador. The National caught up with him to talk about his forthcoming romantic comedy Dolly ki Doli, which stars Sonam Kapoor and marks the directorial debut of the young filmmaker Abhishek Dogra.

You are producing Dolly ki Doli, which is a debut project for the director Abhishek Dogra. You work with debutante directors a fair bit. Why is that?

When you work with fresh people, you witness a different kind of enthusiasm. The effort they put in and their eye for detail is keener, because the complacency hasn’t set in. They put in a lot more effort, hard work and concentration. They come with better ideas. It is a known fact in the industry that some of the best films by the greatest directors rate among the first five films of their career. It’s a strange phenomenon, but when you work with fresh people it’s a totally different deal.

In the beginning, you just want to make a good film. When you become established, you have the dictates of money, you have to match your work and success, things become routine and everything changes. Look at Aditya Chopra who made Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, or Farhan Akhtar with Dil Chahta Hai, or Sooraj Barjatya with Maine Pyar Kiya. I can name hundreds of directors whose best films are their earliest ones. This is why I enjoy working with new directors.

How about debutant actors? Would you say the same things about working with them?

I would not. Debutant actors are raw at times. They are different from debutant writers and directors because they are still growing. They have yet to mature and hone their craft. They tend to get more confident as they achieve more success. It’s a little bit of an inverse equation here.

This was your first time working with Sonam Kapoor. How was it?

Sonam is not just a great person to work with, but is a brilliant actress. She is very hardworking, very grounded and very responsible. She knows what a producer and director require to finish on time and within budget. It’s good when an actor thinks on that level. Then their demands are not ridiculous. She knows how to go about a given project responsibly and faithfully.

Tell us about Dolly ki Doli. How is it different from the regular Bollywood film?

First and foremost, you can see that from the title. It sounds like something you have never heard before. It’s a drama comedy. It’s a fun entertainer. We have taken a believable concept and added freshness. You will love it!

• Dolly ki Doli will be released on January 22