Return of the laugh riot

It’s been almost five years that  director  Mrigdeep Singh Lamba’s Fukrey released  but no one has forgotten Hunny,  Chu Cha and Zafar. Pukit Samrat, Varun Sharma, and Ali Fazal as the Fukrey boys are back again with the sequel Fukrey Returns. The film promises to be more hilarious than the original.   

Five years is a long time, but Pulkit who plays Hunny claims nothing has changed. “After Fukrey, we went our own way meeting once in a while. But the moment we met for the first reading, it was like we had never parted ways. We were back to our old ways. The reading sessions were hilarious and Varun Sharma is always there to entertain us,” says he.

Varun—the famous Chu Cha—says, “We got a lot of love after the first film and people still talk about it. The sequel took time to be written but now that the trailers are out, people are loving it. Our characters are the same but there’s more fun and a lot of naughtiness.”

Ali, who plays Zafar, adds, “I shouldn’t be boasting but people know us and the characters very well. Coming back together after so long, it didn’t feel like we were doing a sequel. Believe me people are going to love the sequel as much as they loved the first film.”

Varun reveals that in the sequel his character has  progressed from dreaming to predicting the future. “He falls in love with  Bholi and lives in his own bubble. But he is trying his best. It has been a hilarious reunion for all of us, including Richa Chadha and Manjot Singh,” he adds. “Everyday, we would have meals together and keep inquiring about each other. This does not happen in professional life,” says Ali.

Shooting down speculations  about him not promoting the film, he says, “I am not promoting the  film as I am busy with my future projects but I always catch up with the gang. It’s a unique friendship. Richa is a wonderful actor and reminds me of Hollywood sensibilities. I am a huge fan. Manjot is also great,” smiles Ali.

Pulkit chips in, “None of us had the time to think of anything else on the sets. We were out there having pure fun. But the stakes are much higher this time.” But not everything is the same. Of late, Ali has become an international star with his film Victoria and Abdul receiving a lot of appreciation and critical acclaim. The actor admits that life has completely changed.  

“After Victoria and Abdul, new doors have opened for me. Two more international films are lined up in 2018. I am also doing Mirzapur, which is a web series. I feel nice. I am promoting Indian cinema abroad. I tell them that people are making different kind of films, and formula films are no longer made.  I spoke about Fukrey and told them how different a script it is. I have also recommended them to watch films such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Dangal, Udaan, and Masaan.”

Varun is also busying himself with Abhishek Dogra’s Fry Day where he will be seen alongside Govinda. “I have finished shooting one schedule and am waiting for the next where we will be shooting songs. I am excited to share screen space and  match my steps with Govinda. Besides, I am also doing a web series titled Informer, directed by Rohan Bajaj. I want to try and explore different kind of roles—something having dark shades. Before Fukrey happened,  didn’t know I  could do comedy so well,” he says.

Pulkit, on the other hand, prefers to keep mum about his future projects. “Excel is planning something but I am not allowed to speak about it. The producers will make the announcement. I want to explore different kind of roles and I want to give action genre a shot  now,” he concludes.