From the mad-ad world Piyush has peddled his way into phillums. The young director who debuted with Chalo America has his comic cap on, as he spins a satire with Om Puri as the King of Bollywood.

Piyush Jha chats IndiaFM about this iDream production. A spoof on Bollywood, this craze ball comedy promises you some hearty laughs. While acting genius Om Puri dons some howlarious garbs and dances to bollywood beats, British model Sophie Dahl and Diwakar Pundir keep the tempo going.

From the mad-ad world to the madness of movie making, how has it been?

Well, advertising years were great fun. Come Friday and I will know how much fun my film career is going to be…

How does it feel that a prolific actor like Om Puri is so kicked about your film?

Feels fantastic! I am glad that he is confident about my film. When respected actors like him feel that their participation in the film is justified, everybody falls in line. The fact that an actor of his calibre believes in my creation is great encouragement to me.

Your directorial debut was Chalo America, a light comedy. King of Bollywood is a fun look at Bollywood. You seem to be very comfortable with comedy…

Yup. Comedy interests me a lot. And I think I can pretty much handle it.

Can you run us through the plot...

The film is about a fading star, Karan Kumar, KK, who is desperately trying to hang on to his peeling stardom. As fate would have it, a documentary filmmaker Crystal Chaurasia [Sophie Dahl] approaches him for a documentary shoot. And he suddenly hits upon the idea of re-launching himself as a 'teenage sensation'. That's the plot in a nutshell.

Om Puri has gone on record saying that he instantly liked your script. Were there any jitters from your end while approaching him?

Not really. Om Puri was my first and last choice from day one. When I showed him the script, he okayed it in 15 mins flat!

An Om Puri film you loved best…

Ardh Satya for one. And Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. I loved his character of Ahuja so much so that I asked him to turn in the same Punjabi flavor for my film too.

What made you decide on Sophie Dahl?

I auditioned Sophie at London. I kind-a liked her nervous energy for the role. That's how I zeroed it on her. She plays the role of a documentary filmmaker.

What genre would you say King of Bollywood belongs to?

I think the film belongs to the new-wave cinema that's currently breezing India.

Now that you have directed Omji, tell us one thing about him that not many know…

Well, what I did like to tell everybody is that, Om Puri is a very generous man. He's a person who gives himself to the director. And I would encourage every budding filmmaker to work with him to know what professionalism is all about.

What do you personally find quirky about Bollywood?

Ha! Not so easy, you need to watch the movie to find out what amuses me best about Bollywood.

Since Om Puri is the King of Bollywood, whom would you like to cast as queen?

Good one. Hmm…Queen of Bollywood would have to be Madhuri Dixit undoubtedly.

A recent movie that you loved watching

The Village. In time to come, I am sure it will be titled a classic.

Indians don't have a sense of humor. This is a popular cover that moviemakers use. Do you agree or you think they haven't played the gamble yet.

I think we grossly underestimate the viewer. For instance while editing, there are times when I doubted whether the humor was slightly highbrow. But when I saw the chaiwallas and errand boys reacting, realized that it was working. So, according to me, humor is something that appeals to a huge cross-section of audiences.

Piyush, with films like Jhankaar Beats & Dil Chahta Hai, banana-peel humor seems to take a backseat. Urban humor has gained spotlight. Do you think your film is going to ride this curve?

Firstly, I don't subscribe to banana-peel humor. It doesn't come to me naturally. My brand of humor is a mix of physical comedy and satire. And I think with more and more young filmmakers flitting into the scene, urban humor has a long lifeline.

When did you last say, “Wow, that is great comedy!”

While watching Hera Pheri.

Any movies on the card right now

I have two projects as of now. One would be announced in a month's time. Both are comedies.