10 Years of Main Tera Hero EXCLUSIVE: Dialogue writer Milap Zaveri reveals fascinating trivia about the much-loved ‘Main dikhta hoon sweet, innocent type ka na’ dialogue: “It’s so funny that the line, which became so ICONIC for Varun Dhawan, was not supposed to be there in the film in the first place”

Main Tera Hero (2014) completed 10 years on April 4. It was Varun Dhawan’s second film and the way he played to the gallery proved that he was here to stay. The comic caper is remembered for its performances, music, funny moments and most importantly, dialogues. This is easily one of the best works by writer-director Milap Zaveri and on the 10th anniversary of Main Tera Hero; he spoke exclusively with Bollywood Hungama about the film and a lot more.

How did you bag Main Tera Hero? You had earlier written Shaadi No 1 (2005) for David Dhawan and Desi Boyz (2011) for his son Rohit… Yes. It’s a family I am very close to and am very fond of. Rohit and I have been friends even before I got my first break. When Kaante (2002) was released, he loved my work and that’s how we struck a friendship. I always wanted to work with David sir being the legend he was. I had met David sir a few times but nothing materialized. Meanwhile, Masti (2004) happened and my career took off. Then, I did the dialogues for David sir’s Shaadi No 1. It didn’t do well and it was disappointing for me. I felt like I let sir down.

During Main Tera Hero, I don’t know who recommended me, whether it was Rohit or someone else. It was a time when I had come back from a sabbatical. My debut directorial, Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai (2010) had not done well. I made a comeback with Shootout At Wadala (2013), Grand Masti (2013), Ek Villain (2014) and Main Tera Hero. I must also give credit to Tushar Hiranandani. He was working on the screenplay for Ek Villain as well as Main Tera Hero. Tushar and I go back a long way; we have partnered for many years. I am sure he must have also had a say during the discussion with David sir and Rohit about me.

When they met me, I realized that it was a big responsibility. David sir told me, ‘You are close to my son Rohit. But this time, my responsibility is for my other son, Varun’. It was a big film. Student Of The Year (2012) was released but Main Tera Hero was his first solo release in a genre which is a tricky one. Not everybody can ace David sir’s genre. The character had shades of what Salman sir had done with David ji or what Govinda sir has done. It was full front-foot mass comedy. Hence, David sir told me, ‘Teri zimmedari bahut hai’. I assured him, ‘Don’t worry, sir. Main faad dunga. I’ll give my everything to the film’.

I worked a lot on the dialogues. If he didn’t like any punchline, I would tell him, ‘I’ll give you something better’.

You also wrote the much-loved line, ‘Main dikhta hoon sweet, innocent type ka na? Lekin actually hoon bahut bade harami type ka’… I always joke with Varun that he has done so many films. But the only line that he can say on stage or in any event is this. And David sir had cut out this line from the scene, citing that ‘Yeh scene thoda lamba hai. Isme se 1-2 line kam kar’. But Varun had heard this line when I had narrated the dialogues. When he got the dialogues for the next day’s shoot, he instantly realized that the line was not there. He called me and asked me about it. I explained to him the situation. He insisted on messaging him the exact line. I did. The next day, during the take, Varun said the line. Everybody loved it and David sir was surprised. He was like, ‘Yeh line toh kaat di thi. Isne kaise bol di?’! However, he loved the way Varun said it so much that he made the latter repeat the line in the climax as well. It’s so funny that the line, which became so iconic for Varun, was not supposed to be there in the film in the first place. It’s only thanks to Varun’s alertness that he remembered the line from my narration and he made sure the line is retained. These are magical things. You can’t plan it. Even today, it’s the punch line that he’s known by!

Were Ileana DCruz and Nargis Fakhri the original choices? Yes. David wanted them for the roles and they both came on board. There was a discussion, however, on the title, whether it should be called Tu Mera Hero or Main Tera Hero. ‘Tu Mera Hero’ was a super-hit song from Desi Boyz. Everyone then decided on Main Tera Hero as it’s more front foot and it’s the boy’s point of view. It’s more heroic, like ladka bol raha hai ki main tera hero hoon!

How was your experience working on the film? It was crazy fun, especially to see Varun do something that not many people thought he’d be able to pull off. The way he nailed the comic scenes and the songs (is commendable). I must also say what music the film has! God bless Wajid’s soul. ‘Tera Dhyaan Kidhar Hai’ itself was such an extraordinary song. It was the energy of so many people coming together for David ji. We all wanted him to give his son a hit.

Were you on the set from start to finish? I went quite a few times. Normally, I don’t go everyday to the sets of those films for which I have written the dialogues. I always joke that jab writer set pe kuch nahin kar raha hota hai, toh actor ko dialogue badalne ki khujli ho jaati hai! Actors feel ‘yeh set pe kuch nahin kar raha hai. Chalo isko bolte hai ki yeh scene ko better kar sakte hai kya’. And often, while trying to better a line, we end up spoiling the dialogue. Hence, I mostly avoid going on the sets. But with Main Tera Hero, I made an exception to see David sir in action. It was great to watch him direct. Also, he’s someone who constantly tries his best to improve things. Very often, he would call me and say, ‘Kal ke scene mein mujhe aur maza chahiye’. So, I’d go on the set and do the needful.

There’s a line at the beginning of the film ‘Kutte ki poonch aur Katrina ki Hindi kabhi seedhi nahin ho sakti’! Did Katrina Kaif react to the scene ever? Luckily, she didn’t react! I have mentioned many actors in the film. One dialogue was ‘Teri kismat mein Ranbir Kapoor nahin, Shakti Kapoor hai’. Then there was a line ‘Mujh par ek Ehsaan aur Loy karna’!

Whose idea was it to show Anupam Kher’s character doing the echo?

There’s a beautiful story behind it. I was the dialogue writer and was not doing the screenplay. Anupam ji was going to meet David sir the next day. It was a don’s character but David sir was not happy. He reasoned, ‘Don toh hazaar aaye hai. Is character mein kya nayi baat hai’. He was irritable as not much time was left. This is when I suggested that when Varun’s character would ask him about his wife, Anupam’s character should say in the end ‘Tab se main randwa hoon, randwa hoon, randwa hoon, randwa hoon!’. David sir burst out laughing. He asked, ‘Woh aise kyun baat kar raha hai?’. I replied, ‘Yehi baat woh puchega picture mein bhi. And Saurabh Shukla’s character would answer that he was born in the mountains and hence, uski awaz goonjti hai’. David sir was very happy and finalized it. I was also glad since it was a character trait that I created with dialogue.

The next day, David sir told Anupam ji about it and he also loved it. Till date, whenever Anupam ji and I meet, he would say ‘Arre Milap, tu kaisa hai, kaisa hai, kaisa hai?’!

Is David Dhawan strict on the sets? He’s a legend, having done 45 films. Obviously, he’s a professional and extremely dedicated. He does masti of course but when he’s on the job, he ironically is a serious filmmaker though he makes comedy films. He takes comedy very seriously. Nevertheless, he’s a jovial soul and fun to be around. Though he has made so many films, there’s no ego. I am grateful that he treats me like a son because of my relationship with Rohit and the whole family.

What feedback did you get for your dialogues? When the film was released, the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 tournament was going on. I had even said that our film would be released in the last week of the World Cup (and it might not be a good idea). And everybody said, ‘India thodi pahuchegi final mein’! And India did reach the finals (laughs). Yet, the film did so well. I remember people whistling and clapping on the punchlines in the theatres. I was glad that I had made a promise to David sir and maine apna farz nibha diya (smiles).

It is a rare film of mine where I got good reviews even from critics! Normally, they don’t give me good reviews. If I remember correctly, most of the review of Mumbai Mirror was mainly about me. Ekta Kapoor called me and said, ‘Look at this critic. He’s only talking about you!’.

Did the team ever plan a sequel to Main Tera Hero? Over the years, there were talks but nothing materialized. David sir anyway is not someone who’ll just do a sequel to cash in on the first part. He’s someone who needs to be 100% sure about the plot.

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