Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh in Kabhi Kabhie

What’s Do Dooni Chaar about?

Do Dooni Chaar is a story of a school teacher’s journey from a two-wheeler to a four-wheeler. That’s the story. Even though it’s a comedy, the setting is very real. It’s like the story of every family where the wife and kids pressurise the man of the house to buy a car but he is short of money. It’s a very simple story but it has its own beautiful moments.

Did the story come first or the idea of bringing Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh back together?

The story came first. We signed Habib Faisal, who wrote Salaam Namaste and Ta Ra Rum Pum for Yash Raj. He wanted to make a film. So we first worked on the story. Then we went to Rishi Kapoor and he was very excited. We told him that we want Neetu Singh as his wife. And he said that she gets films offered all the time from the likes of Karan Johar and all and that they all want her to make a big comeback. But she is never interested and Rishi Kapoor made it very clear that it’s unlikely she would say yes. But once Neetuji heard the story, in one second she said yes. She was very happy and excited.

And Rishi Kapoor’s reaction was...

He was very happy that she had finally agreed. He always liked the idea but he wasn’t sure that she would agree to do the film. Once she said yes, he was really upbeat. It’s after 26 years that they have come together. (Actually Rishi and Neetu are coming back after 30 years, Dhan Daulat in 1980 being their last film as the lead pair together.)

Rishi and Neetu will come back together in Do Dooni Chaar, which releases on October 8

Are they as good together as they used to be?

They are wonderful and natural. In fact, she came in front of the camera after so many years. In the interim she had only done a guest appearance in Love Aaj Kal. And from the word go, she was a complete natural. Also, there are quite a few endearing scenes between the two and they have come out really nice.

At a time when their son Ranbir is one of the big box-office draws, do you think people will come to watch Rishi-Neetu in action?

(Laughs) That’s a nice question! You cannot always back only those projects which you think will work. Do Dooni Chaar is a small film. It’s got a very good story, it’s a fast-paced comedy and, of course, there will be a curiosity value because of the Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh return.

Arindam Chaudhuri

Planman hasn’t had a release for quite some time, after The Last Lear in September 2008...

Last year was bad for the entire industry and so was it for us. We had funds tied up with a few companies and they backed out and we didn’t want to invest our own funds. There has also been a little bit of a shift of strategy. Hopefully we will be coming out with a few films soon.

How many ready films do you have as of now?

Only Do Dooni Chaar. Both I’m 24 and Sunglass have been sold to NDTV and we are not sure when they plan to release it.