Riteish Deshmukh with Bruna Abdullah in Grand Masti

This is not your first adult comedy...

True, but this one goes beyond anything I have ever done before. Every time a new action film comes, it ups the ante for fight sequences. The same principle applies to comedy. You have to do something new. In an action film, the sky is the limit for what you can attempt but the danger in adult comedy is that jokes can get vulgar. Until now there were only double-meaning dialogues and physical comedy. So, we have pushed the envelope with this one, but hopefully we haven’t pushed it too far.

Did you have any concerns when you signed the film?

Of course. This was narrated to me when I was shooting for Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum in Goa. My first reaction after the narration was that I am definitely not doing this film. I think we all reacted this way. But having done Masti, Kyaa Kool Hai Hum and its sequel Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, I thought maybe we are ready for a film like Grand Masti. There is definitely a certain audience for films like these. With the popularity of mobile phone, people exchange naughty jokes. And there is no age for that.

So what changed your mind?

Indra Kumar. This is my fourth film with Indraji. He convinced me. I told him that I have done enough sex comedies but he promised that this would be different. Also, I love him too much so I couldn’t have actually refused the film.

Are you now more comfortable with mouthing the double entendres?

On camera? I think so. I come from a generation where such jokes have been shared and laughed at. So, this is not a space I am not uncomfortable in. Today, if you watch any comedy show on TV, you’ll find so many double entendres. It’s all done very smartly. What gets uncomfortable for me is watching this with my family.

On the sets of Grand Masti there were times when Genelia was like, ‘Are you guys serious?!’

Was there a scene or dialogue you were too embarrassed to do?

Oh, all of them! Every morning, before reaching the sets, I would wear my cloak of embarrassment. If it was just us guys, I don’t think we would have gotten embarrassed but saying those dialogues to the girls was mortifying. What was even more awkward was when the girls had to crack their jokes. But I guess, we got over our embarrassment after a while. If we hadn’t, then we wouldn’t have completed the film. You have to make your peace with it. After embarrassment comes shamelessness and we got pretty shameless by the end of the shoot.

Were there scenes that you refused to do?

Any scene that we thought was too out there, Vivek and I would palm off to Aftab. There were many scenes that I didn’t want to be remembered for. It’s time for Aftab to be remembered now (laughs).

Was Genelia around when you were shooting Grand Masti?

Genelia was a part of Masti and she has seen my other adult comedies but while on the sets of Grand Masti, there were times when she was like, ‘Are you guys serious?!’

But your grandkids might see this...

(Laughs) Thankfully I don’t think that much in the future. I am responsible for everything I do. Good, bad, ugly, they are all my films. I am what I am because of my films. If my grandkids ever watch things, I guess they’ll ask: ‘What were you thinking?’ I’ll answer the question when it comes to that.

You play a henpecked husband; after one year of marriage, what is your advice for husbands?

Never get into an argument. You will never win. When your wife gets angry, compliment her. Tell her she is looking pretty. If she is gets even angrier, just apologise. Even if you don’t know what your fault is, just apologise. Your last resort should be to accept blame for any and everything.

Do you abide by these rules off-screen?

Not really? Nah. Never ever ever! I hope Genelia doesn’t read this interview!