By Subhash K Jha

Abhinay Deo clears the misconceptions about Delhi Belly

Delhi Belly has been quite a hush-hush project ever since it was announced. As a result, the film’s surreptitious status has generated several misconceptions. So we spoke to the film’s director, Abhinay Deo, who clears several rumours, tells us why he prefers calling it as a social comedy rather than a sexual comedy, and discusses his future plans.

Abhinay said, “Delhi Belly is not a film about Imran Khan. He is only one of the several protagonists. There are others whose characters as just as important. There is Kunaal Roy Kapoor, Vir Das and Poorna Jagannathan, an Indian actress from LA.”

Abhinay, who is busy working on post-production, added, “Although it has been labelled as a sex comedy in certain sections of the press, I would call it a social comedy. Yes, some portions of the dialogue and some situations are risqué, but I would think twice before calling Delhi Belly the desi American Pie.” So much so that, when the film was first offered to Ranbir Kapoor, he told Abhinay that he would be embarrassed to watch himself in Delhi Belly with his parents. “I understand what he means,” is all that Abhinay said.

Only recently, there were rumours about Delhi Belly being delayed for producer Aamir Khan’s wife, Kiran Rao’s Dhobi Ghat. “Delhi Belly is not in the same zone as Kiran’s film,” said Abhinay, “Kiran’s is a Mumbai film. Mine, though located in Delhi, is not really a Delhi-centric film. It can be situated in any large metropolitan city.” But as the rumour stated, are certain portions of the film being reshot? “It’s not reshooting, it’s patchwork. The additional three-day shoot is for continuity. It’s a standard procedure.”

Explaining why the film is being made in English, Abhinay added, “We’re aiming at an international release. It will be released for non-NRI audience in the West. We hope to target the same audience that enjoyed Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham.”

What is he working on after Delhi Belly? “I am moving on to a film produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar,” said Abhinay. “It is tentatively titled Crooked and stars Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan.”