It is not wrong to remake a classic: David Dhawan

Noted filmmaker David Dhawan is not able to come to terms with the fuss being created over his remake of the 1980 classic Chashme Baddoor. “Had I not retained the title and called the same Tere Ghar Ke Samne, hardly anyone would have objected. But I maintained with the same title as we had taken the original story of how two kaminas (Siddharth and Divyendu Sharma) try to impress upon a girl (Taapsee Pannu) but fail. After their third friend Ali Zafar succeeds, they get jealous and spoil his game. But later they realise that he will end his life if he does not get her. They try to patch up with him but only end up making matters worse,” avers Dhawan. The director adds that he had heard that Sai Paranjpye , the director of the original is upset, but washes his hand by saying,“ As a matter of fact, producers Viacom 18 are holders of the script and not me; I am just directing the film. So, it is now up to them to talk to her. Personally, I know Rakesh Bedi and the late Ravi Baswani (part of the first film); we have earlier worked together.” He also does not think that it is wrong to remake a classic.“Tell me what is a classic? Even my Aankhen is supposed to be a classic, but then if someone reinterprets the script, I have no issues for they are only giving credence to my product. I took the basic seed and have retold the story in my own style,” he maintains. Coming to the casting of Chashme Baddoor, Dhawan says, “Ali perfectly fits the bill of the innocent nice boy of the trio. To tell you frankly I liked him when I saw him earlier in London,Paris, New York and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.” At this point he smartly deflects the current Indo-Pak tensions by saying, “the film started rolling two years ago and I had no problems. Ali is a Pakistani singer/ actor. Apparently, he did not get a visa to promote the above film in India,” Dhawan informs. “As for Siddharth, he is a very hard working, professional and super talented actor. He is quite busy in the South (Tamil and Kannada), Divyendu Sharma (Pyar Ka Punchnama fame) is also a very good actor. Last but not the least, Taapsee from Punjab will surprise you as well. She looks like the younger sister of Preity Zinta. She has her own mind and is very aggressive. It is always fun to work with new lot because you can groom them but God save you, if they turn out to be bad actors,” the veteran director concludes with a smile.