More than a decade ago, when Parineeti Chopra watched the first Golmaal film in a theatre in Chandigarh, the actress couldn’t have even dreamt of some day being a part of the comedy franchise. For her eighth film, the 28-year-old actress has teamed up with director Rohit Shetty and the men of the masala caper for Golmaal Again. This is Parineeti’s first big-ticket Diwali release (the film hits theatres this Friday) and her excitement was palpable when t2 met the stunner recently in a banquet room at the Sun ’n’ Sand hotel in Juhu, Mumbai.

“For years now, I haven’t gone home (Ambala) for Diwali because of work, so I haven’t had a big celebration. This year, with Golmaal (Again) releasing, it will be different,” she says, beaming from ear to ear. During our chat, Parineeti also spilled some secrets about co-star Ajay Devgn and director Shetty.

What’s your earliest memory of Golmaal?

You know, the boys (the Golmaal cast) are going to kill me for saying this, but I saw the first Golmaal when I was in school. In 2006, I was in Class xii. I didn’t watch too many films those days, but everyone was talking about Golmaal so I went to Chandigarh with all my friends to watch the film. We were laughing like mad people! Never in my life could I have imagined that, one day, I’d become an actress and work in a Golmaal film! It’s weird how life shapes up. I am very honoured to be a part of a franchise as big as this and work with one of our biggest directors. This film ticked multiple boxes for me.

So was it an automatic ‘yes’ when it came your way?

Oh ya! I was so excited. My manager called me when I was in the US and I heard the word ‘Golmaal’ and I got so excited! Initially she only said, ‘Rohit Shetty wants to meet’ and I thought maybe it’s for something else. And then she mentioned Golmaal. Even then I didn’t believe her. I started asking her really inane questions like, ‘It is it the same Golmaal or is there some other Golmaal?’ (Laughs)

I flew back from the US for a day and managed to meet Rohit Sir for an hour. I kept telling him, ‘I can’t believe I am sitting here with you’ and ‘I want to do this film’. I couldn’t believe my luck! When I finally heard the script, the girl is not just another heroine. The story is about her also. It was the perfect combination.

Most of the cast has known each other professionally and personally for years. You didn’t know them when you started the film. What was that like?

I like to believe that I am a very friendly person and I usually am not nervous about meeting or working with new people. The morning I was going to the Golmaal set was the first time I was nervous about meeting the cast. It felt like I had to infiltrate this gang of friends!

And there are quite a few of them!

Ya, ya! There are 19 principal characters, of which 18 of them know each other. On the first day, I was not just nervous, but also star-struck. I couldn’t believe I was entering the Golmaal world! For the first few days, I was obviously a little scared of Ajay Sir and Rohit Sir because they are so senior, but they are so friendly and humble people that now I think of them as friends. They really welcomed me… the pranks started almost immediately…

Pranks?

I don’t think anyone else spends this much time, effort or money on setting up and carrying out a prank. There are props involved and jokes can go on for days. Ajay Devgn is the mayor of Prank Town and Rohit Shetty is the CEO! They are the worst combination ever!

So what kind of pranks are we talking about?

Oh, there were so many! They were pulling pranks on me even last night. In the first few days, Rohit Sir told me that he wanted me to do some ridiculous hand gesture for a scene. I tried telling him that I didn’t think my character would do something like that. He said, ‘You’ll tell me about your character?!’ So I quickly shut up. There was an unusual silence on the set. The moment he yelled ‘Action’, I started doing the hand gesture and the whole crew burst out laughing. I was soooo embarrassed!

There was another time when I was told the wrong dialogue. It was a scene that involved many other actors. I walked into the scene and started saying lines that made no sense to the others!

It’s interesting that you mention the pranks because for the last few years, Ajay’s been trying to portray that he doesn’t play practical jokes on sets any more!

Really?! I will not let this be a secret anymore. The world needs to know (laughs) and the world needs to be careful around Ajay Devgn! Okay, I am joking. He is very senior and he is a lovely man.

Golmaal Again is your first out-and-out masala entertainer...

Everything was a revelation on Golmaal. This film required a certain kind of acting that I had never done before. I think, on the fourth day, I did a take that Rohit Sir finally said ‘You’ve got it’. I have also learnt so much about how our audience thinks and expects from a film like this. What it takes to make a successful entertainer like this. There is a reason why Rohit Sir has now made the fourth Golmaal film!

After Golmaal Again, you have a really interesting slate of films.

Yeah… four days after the release of Golmaal I will leave for Dibakar’s (Banerjee) film Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar with Arjun (Kapoor). I am very excited about that. It’s the perfect film to follow up a Golmaal. And immediately after that, we’ll work together again in Namastey Canada (directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah).

Arjun recently joked that back-to-back releases with you means that there will be linkup rumours which he is totally prepared for!

(Laughs) If I am going to be linked to someone, I would take Arjun over anyone else because we are such good friends. Though, of course, I’d prefer no linkups! (Pauses) I think I am one of those few lucky ones whose personal life doesn’t get written about so much. For that, I am very grateful.

Karishma Upadhyay