'Short Kut,' a fun hare and tortoise story: Neeraj Vora

By Robin Bansal, New Delhi, July 8 : 'Short Kut - The Con Is On' is a fun-filled 'hare and tortoise story' that has Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi playing a 'lethal combination', says writer-director Neeraj Vora, who adds that it has no semblance to his last film 'Phir Hera Pheri'.

"'Short Kut' is about a struggling writer-director (played by) Akshaye who believes in the hard way of living and his actor-dancer friend (Arshad) believes in taking shortcuts to success. In the film, Arshad steals Akshaye's script and becomes an overnight star," Vora told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"But 'Short Kut...' is not a 'Phir Hera Pheri'. This film tells you that shortcuts don't pay, they don't last and they don't satisfy. It's a very serious film, but with a lot of humour and drama. It's like a hare and tortoise story with Akshaye and Arshad in a terrific lethal combination," he said.

Talking about the comic element in the movie, Vora said: "As far as comedy is concerned, it is physically an action and reaction story. Akshaye is in a serious part and he is not supposed to be comical at all. While Arshad has to deliver humour punches and Akshaye has to react."

Vora entered showbiz as an actor with 1984 movie "Holi" and later debuted as a writer in 1995 with Aamir Khan-starrer "Rangeela". In 2000, he donned the director's cap for "Khiladi 420", which had Akshay Kumar as hero. He then made "Phir Hera Pheri" in 2006.

As a writer, Vora has mostly been associated with comedies like "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (2007), "Hulchul" (2004), "Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar" (2001) and "Hera Pheri" (2000).

He admits comedy is his forte. "Comedy comes naturally to me. I derived it from my father. The main success point of my career was comedy because I used the personal aspect of a character and not SMS or Internet jokes like others."

After juggling different roles Vora, a self-proclaimed "strict" and "clinical" director, wants to concentrate on direction now. His future projects include "Run Bhola Run" and "Family".

"I'm 100 percent in the director's chair now and I'd also love to produce a film because it will give me more creative control on the project. The clarity that I've had in direction is the most among all my endeavours," said Vora, whose "Short Kut" is being produced by Anil Kapoor.

"Anil Kapoor is a very large-hearted producer...he is in love with cinema and every intricate detail associated with it. He is one producer who gives full freedom to his directors and will go to any extent for cinema," the director said.

Vora added that Anil was very keen to make the comedy.

"Anil always wanted to make this film and Anees (Bazmee) had already written the script from Roshan Andrews' Malayalam film ('Udayananu Tharam'). But then I made a lot of changes in the script. I wasn't looking for any flavour, but a story and it came out well," said Vora.

This is not the first time Anil has ventured into production. He first turned producer with "Badhaai Ho Badhaai" in 2002 and followed it up with the critically-acclaimed "Gandhi, My Father" (2007). He is also producing forthcoming movies "No Problem" and "Ayesha".

Releasing July 10, "Short Kut..." also stars Amrita Rao.