We shot Total Siyapaa in 28 days – Ali Zafar

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA: Free $30 Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…11 months after his last hit Chashme Baddoor, Ali Zafar is back on the big screen with Total Siyapaa. While the David Dhawan directed comedy was as 'filmy' as it gets, Total Siyapaa is on the lines of other concept based films like Tere Bin Laden and London Paris New York that Ali has been a part of.

"Mostly, what I look for in my films is the content of the script. Also, it works when such films are made on a tight budget. Like for example Total Siyapaa was shot in 28 days flat. We could afford to do that as the script was water tight and we didn't have to invent things on the sets. I could pretty much sense that the shooting would be smooth once Neeraj Pandey shared the script with me. It sounded very direct and balanced. Now that was a feat in itself because the very subject of an Indian girl falling for a Pakistani girl could have been a little sensitive. My director E. Niwas balanced it out in a humorous way," says Ali.

A remake of Only Human, which was a comedy of errors featuring a Palestinian boy and a Jewish girl, Total Siyapaa has been suitably Indianised.

"Yes," says Ali, "While the core plot is just the same, the dialogues are very original. With the Indo-Pak angle coming in, there is an added fun element brought in."

What also brings in added fun is Kirron Kher's performance in the film. Apparently, Ali shares quite a lot of screen space with the veteran actress who has a flair for comedy.

"Her presence in the film creates a fair balance. She is required to go over top and that is helpful as it gives me a chance to be subdued. In a way, our characters complement each other," smiles Ali, "Moreover, Neeraj was quite convinced about how he wanted to present our combination to the audience. I really had a lot of faith in his intellect. In future too, I would like to work with people like him again."

Meanwhile, he also liked working with Yaami Gautam who is his fifth new female co-star.

"What really distinguishes Yaami is that, she is a very real person. There are no airs that she carries about herself. She is always on time, is very punctual, humble and a wonderful co-star to work with. When you co-star is so nice, it is a delight to be on the sets. Also, the chemistry comes out very well. Yaami has been an absolutely no-nonsense girl," smiles Ali before signing off.

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more

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