EXCLUSIVE: Firoz Nadiadwala remembers Neeraj Vora on his 60th birth anniversary; says he’ll pay a special tribute to Neeraj Vora in Hera Pheri 3: “In the beginning, we’ll mention ‘In the loving and living memory of Neeraj Vora’”

January 22, 2023, marked the 60th birth anniversary of Neeraj Vora. He was one of the most accomplished writers of Bollywood who had written memorable films Hera Pheri (2000), Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Hungama (2003), Garam Masala (2005), Deewane Huye Paagal (2005), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Golmaal (2006), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) etc. He worked extensively with producer Firoz Nadiadwala and even wrote and directed the cult comedy Phir Hera Pheri (2006) for the former’s banner. Both formed a deep friendship and Firoz Nadiadwala even took care of Neeraj Vora, to the extent of erecting an ICU in his bungalow, when the latter fell sick. On December 14, 2017, Neeraj Vora passed away. But the memories remain as fresh as ever. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Firoz Nadiadwala speaks about Neeraj Vora and a lot more. How did you and Neeraj Vora become such thick friends? I first met him as early as 1998. His humour and wit appealed to me. I realized that this man spoke a different language. Fortunately, we got a chance to work with each other on Hera Pheri. His basic sense of story, screenplay and dialogue was strong. What was rare was that he would write keeping in mind the actor, the character and the character’s trait in mind and then he would write the dialogues. He’ll also keep in mind the rhythm in which the dialogues should be performed by that concerned actor. He’ll also focus on how the character should non-verbally with his gestures, use of hand movements, facial expressions etc. Hence, it was a total detailing of what to say, how to say it, when to say it, what kind of pause to take and while he/she’s saying it, how he/she should also perform with his/her body language. That was a unique ability that I had never seen before. He’d also be present on the set and make sure that the actor would enact in the same way as Neeraj ji had imagined or created. This is what made Hera Pheri what it was and also some of my other films in which Neeraj ji was associated like Phir Hera Pheri, Deewane Huye Paagal, Awara Paagal Deewana, Fool N Final (2007) etc. He also gave some very good creative contributions to Aan: Men At Work (2004), Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015). How did he turn director for Phir Hera Pheri? He was already in the process of directing a film at that time. Me, Akshay Kumar ji, Suniel Shetty ji and Paresh Rawal ji discussed and came to the conclusion that Neeraj ji is the best person to take up the responsibility of directing Phir Hera Pheri. We then requested him to come on board as director. It was India’s first actual sequel in which the characters from part 1 were carried forward into part 2. While we were contemplating making the sequel, we met with a lot of ridicule. There were a lot of sneering remarks made that ‘who’s going to watch a sequel’ and that ‘India is not a place to make sequels’. Nevertheless, with the kind support of Neeraj ji, Akshay ji, Suniel ji and Paresh ji, we embarked on the journey and the rest is history. Paresh Rawal in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama revealed that Neeraj Vora played a big role in his popularity, especially in shaping Baburao Apte’s character from Hera Pheri series… Absolutely. In fact, both Neeraj ji and Paresh ji conceived the character together, to the extent of suggesting a soda bottle chashmah for Baburao! You are producing Hera Pheri 3 next. Is it one of the last scripts written by Neeraj Vora? Yes. It’s the same script, which he had given us years ago. What made you take care of him and even turn your room into an ICU when he fell sick? It was my sense of moral responsibility to myself. Woh bhai hai mera. I won’t say ‘tha’. Woh mera bhai hai (smiles). In fact, at the beginning of our next Hera Pheri film, we’ll mention ‘In the loving and living memory of Neeraj Vora’! He’s with us even now. I'll also like to mention Mandeep, a dear friend of mine and Neeraj ji. He's like a family and he also stood throughout with Neeraj ji during the difficult times. Neeraj ji meant a lot to me; sagge bhai se bhi badhkar the woh mere liye. I have not seen a talent like him in my last 39-40 years of working in the film industry. May God bless his soul. Also Read: 15 Years Of Welcome EXCLUSIVE: Firoz Nadiadwala reveals how the MADDENING climax was shot: “The entire set was placed on hydraulic suspensions. That’s why we could move the set in a see-saw manner. It was a big CHALLENGE”

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