Mid-Day
Mumbai, Apr 28: Director Rohit Shetty was putting the final touches to his big-screen baby, Golmaal, when wife, Maya, delivered a baby boy on April 11. The director was in Thailand for the outdoor shoot schedule of his film at the time.
“Luckily for me, April 11 was the last day of the shoot and we were due in Mumbai the next day. So, from the airport, I went straight to the hospital,” says the new dad. The baby is the couple’s first child. “We have named him Ishaan,” says Shetty, whose wife is a banker.
“She’s with HSBC Bank,” he says.
Instant celebration
Sharman Joshi, Arshad Warsi, Ajay Devgan and Tusshar Kapoor at Golmaal’s shoot at Coral Island inThailand
Though celebrations for the new arrival began the next day — after Shetty’s arrival from Bangkok, there was a mini-celebration at the shoot in Thailand.
“When I heard the news, I just couldn’t wait to land in Mumbai. All the unit folks began greeting me,” the director remembers.
Golmaal, produced by Dhilin Mehta under the Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision banner, stars Paresh Rawal, Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Sharman Joshi and Rimii Sen. The film is a comedy about four friends.
High in Thai
“We were in Thailand for 10 days. We shot at the Coral Islands, off Pattaya beach. The entire cast was present for the shoot as well as the song picturisations. We shot the title track as well as the music video. Coral Island is a half-hour boat ride from Pattaya.
As we shot on the beaches we all had a great time. In fact, the actors would be busy taking a dip in the sea or on the beach buggies and I had to say come on for the shoot now.
Also, as we had to take a daily boat ride to the island, and whenever the sea was rough it could be pretty scary,” Shetty says and rues that he does not have time to spend with his newborn son.
But films are his passion and he is now off to the Goa outdoor of Golmaal. “This is the final wrap-up schedule, after which we begin post-production,” he informs.
Rohit facts
- Son of fight composer and actor Shetty.
- Started as an assistant director as a teenager, with Kuku Kohli’s Phool Aur Kaante, starring Ajay Devgan and Madhoo.
- Was assistant director for films like Suhaag, Pyar To Hona Hi Tha and Hindustan Ki Kasam.
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