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Sanjay Mishra turns director with `Pranam-Walekum`

After his turn as `Bhai Sahab`, the recession-hit kidnapper in `Phas Gaye Re Obama`, Sanjay Mishra is working on his directorial debut with `Pranam-Walekum`, a film on communal harmony.

New Delhi: After his turn as `Bhai Sahab`, the recession-hit kidnapper in `Phas Gaye Re Obama`, Sanjay Mishra is working on his directorial debut with `Pranam-Walekum`, a film on communal harmony.
The subject may seem serious but the actor says he plans to deal with the issue with humour and sense. "It is a great subject. We have roped in some of the great actors and are also planning to cast a Pakistani actress in the lead. As the title suggests, the film is my way of dealing with the man-made differences that is dividing our society," Mishra told reporters. Sanjay, who first gained widespread recognition with his role in `Office Office`, says his decision to turn director was a natural progression. "When I see the comedy in Bollywood and on small screen, I feel scared for the genre. I fear that people will stop watching comedy shows because it is being misused so badly. Turning director was the next logical step and I hope to do a good job." The seasoned actor says he was skeptical when he was first offered the role in `Phas Gaye Re Obama`. "I thought that the director was mad to offer such a role to me and I was a bigger fool to say yes. But it turned out to be a great experience to work on the film, which did not have any typical Bollywood paraphernalia around it," says Mishra, who has worked in mainstream Bollywood movies like `Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?`, `Golmaal 3` and `All The Best`. `Pranam Walekum`, which is to go on floors soon, is being produced by Sandiip Kapoor of `Jugaad` and `Noughty@40` fame and Kapoor is still scouting for new talents in the movie. "We have created a set of villages. It is a period film but not time specific. Sanjayji is a very talented actor and I am happy that he is turning director with this film," Sandiip said. The producer says they are planning to release the film on January 26 next year. "It is an unusual story woven around an usual subject. The story will regale viewers with ironies and funny anecdotes of everyday life. We are going to make people laugh and also when a man like Sanjay Mishra is directing the same you can imagine how it is going to be," Kapoor said. PTI