Housefull 4 promises to offer fun and entertainment, the reincarnation comedy is set in two time periods: 1419 and 2019.
It showcases the king of Sitamgarh organising for a swayamvar for his daughters.
The king zeroes in on warrior Bala (Akshay Kumar) for Kriti Sanon (Madhu), Bobby Deol (Dharamputra) for Kriti Kharbanda (Meena) and nartaki Bangdu Maharaj (Riteish Deshmukh) for Pooja Hegde (Mala).
The story also fast-forwards the timeline to 2019, when Akshay Kumar is introduced as Harry, Riteish Deshmukh is Roy and Bobby Deol is Max.
Akshay, who can remember the happenings of his past life as Bala, suddenly realises he is engaged to be married to Pooja Hegde, who is Pooja now.
Modern-day Riteish’s love interest in the film is Kriti Kharbanda, who is Neha now whereas the 2019 version of Bobby Deol is in love with Kriti Sanon, who is Kriti in this life.
How these estranged and reincarnated couples realise their true love is what forms the crux of the story.
Being the big Bollywood Diwali release, Filme Shilmy explores four reasons why this could be a fun entertaining watch!
A Reincarnation Comedy
The makers of the Housefull franchise never fail to surprise the movie lovers and this time around the concept of the film is based on a reincarnation comedy.
The cast of the multi-starrer play double roles based in two time periods of 1419 and 2019.
Speaking about how this concept was created, director Farhad Samji tells the media:
“Sajid Nadiadwala had this one-line idea about reincarnation with changing of partners. Everyone liked the concept, but it is always difficult to translate a one-line idea into a bound screenplay.
It was a long process; we decided on the basic character traits first and then correlated their past and present in the screenplay.
For example, in 1419, there is Akshay’s character named Bala Dev Singh, who is bald. In the present era, we have made him a barber.
The most attractive thing about doing a reincarnation comedy is that it hasn’t been explored to date. Our film isn’t a spoof, but a genuine comedy.
People often associate Housefull brand with slapstick humour, but this one is a proper reincarnation comedy.
It’s about how a character would react to discovering that his lover from a previous life is now his sister-in-law. It’s a situational comedy, not slapstick.”
Akshay-Riteish Reunite With Some New Female Faces
The Housefull franchise is returning after a gap of three years since the last instalment was released in 2016.
Plus, the audience will witness the super successful camaraderie of Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh. Speaking about this chemistry, Riteish says:
“When there are people around and they need to say something that should stay between them, the two communicate by simply looking at each other.
Akshay is a friend and brother who’ll always be there for him and vice versa.”
Bobby also says: “Akshay and Riteish Deshmukh’s chemistry is the selling point of the film and that is how it has been so far.
These two characters are often over-the-top. My character is not like that, it is situational when it gets funny.”
In addition to Akshay and Riteish, the film features three totally new leading ladies, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hedge and Kriti Kharbanda.
All three actresses will be playing the role of princesses from 1419 and their reincarnated versions in 2019.
Johnny Lever & Chunky Panday (Aakhri Pasta) Return
One of the most popular characters from the Housefull series, Akhri Pasta aka Chunky Panday is back for the fourth instalment and his character too has a double role:
A philosopher in 1419 and the iconic Akhri Pasta in 2019.
Father-Daughter duo of Johnny and Jamie Lever will reunite to be a part of Housefull 4.
Taking a hint from a poster release it can be assumed that Jamie is the character from the past and Johnny has reincarnated in 2019.
Speaking on working with such comedy virtuosos, Kriti Sanon mentions:
“When you see Johnny (Lever) sir or Chunkey (Panday), I feel all of them have done so many films in this genre that they are pros.
To match up to that level is impossible, but you get to learn a lot on the set.
You need to have the right timing and need to understand the rhythm of it, you need to shed your inhibitions and play along.
It is a lot about improvisations, about reacting at the right time. I never knew I had this inclination for comedy, till I tried it out.”
Rana Daggubati and Bobby Deol’s Bollywood Comeback
Housefull 4 was one of the biggest projects in Bollywood to face the wrath of #MeToo movement.
Subsequently, former director Sajid Khan had to step down from his directing duties after sexual harassment charges were levelled against him.
In addition to Sajid, Nana Patekar was replaced with Rana Daggubati, who plays the antagonist in the film… It marks Daggubati’s Bollywood comeback since Baby in 2015.
Speaking with Filme Shilmy about this, Rana says:
“Housefull 4 is the funniest and craziest thing I’ve done as an actor.
There has been a lot of on-going news about Nana Patekar and Sajid Khan’s exit, so I hadn’t met any of those people.
I knew of the film happening but wasn’t sure about everything. Then Farhad approached me where I was told that the part was re-written as Nana and I are of different ages.
When I read it, I thought that the part, it was the funniest role I’ve ever heard.
It is when you laugh at stupid stuff, that’s what Housefull is. Since I had never done something like this and had some time off, I thought I’d go ahead with it.”
Bobby was last seen in the comedy Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se. He feels fortunate to be a part of this big franchise:
“For me to be part of a big film like this, is like moving one step ahead. I am excited that I got this offer.
It is not easy to get a film like this. I was lucky that they wanted me to be part of Housefull 4.”
Catchy Soundtrack
Like every Housefull album, this too has some catchy and foot-tapping tunes, especially those like ‘Ek Chumma’, ‘Shaitan Ka Saala’, ‘The Bhoot Song’ and ‘Chammo’.
Initially, there was an outcry on social media that the ‘Ek Chumma’ song was regressive and sexist, however, Sanon defended this by saying:
“How is it regressive? The boys are saying those lines to their partner, not to a stranger.
If ‘Ek Chumma‘ was disrespectful towards women, I would have spoken up.
In Tareefan (from Veere Di Wedding), why was it not pointed that male models were being treated the way mainstream treats female models?”
Also, The Bala Challenge from ‘Shaitan Ka Saala’ has taken social media by storm and gone viral with thousands of people grooving to the hook-step all over the world.
Produced by Fox Star Studios and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Housefull 4 directed by Farhad Samji releases worldwide on October 25.
