📌 Key Points
- Mudassar Aziz defends ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ against claims of promoting infidelity.
- Ayushmann Khurrana’s character, Prajapati Pandey, is portrayed as a loyal husband caught in a comedy of errors.
- The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sara Ali Khan, and Rakul Preet Singh.
- Aziz emphasizes creating comedy from situations, not crude jokes, ensuring social responsibility.
Director Mudassar Aziz addresses criticism surrounding his new film, ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do.’ He clarifies that Ayushmann Khurrana’s character is a loyal husband, not promoting infidelity. Aziz emphasizes the film is a comedy of errors, focusing on situational humor rather than irresponsible themes.
Defending the ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ Premise
Director Mudassar Aziz is back with another comedy of errors. Pati Patni Aur Woh Do takes the trope of the ‘woh’ in a marriage to the next level with Ayushmann Khurrana ’s character dealing not just with his wife, but two other women. As the trailer dropped, many criticised the film for ‘promoting’ infidelity in the 21st century. But the filmmaker says it couldn’t be further from the truth. In a no-holds-barred chat about the film and his social responsibility, Mudassar Aziz tells HT how it differs from other films on the subject.
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do stars Ayushmann as a forest officer married to Wamiqa Gabbi’s character. His life turns upside down when a mysterious woman, played by Sara Ali Khan , enters. Complicating matters is a colleague (Rakul Preet Singh). And pretty soon, the entire town believes Ayushmann’s Prajapati is a philanderer.
Ayushmann’s Character: A Loyal ‘Prajapati Pandey’
From that idea was born Prajapati Pandey, a man caught between a rock and a hard place, explains Mudassar. “There is this official in the Forest Department, Prajapati Pandey, who loves his wife very much, and some comedy of errors occurs in his life. The world starts to feel that there is no man worse than him. The story gets to a point where you feel, ‘Bhai, someone please support this shareef aadmi (decent man)’,” says the filmmaker.
He adds, “The only way to answer people is with the film. I am very particular about this—comedy should be created from the situation, not from some bhadde mazaak (crude joke). Ayushmann and I both have a track record of never trying to make someone laugh at something wrong. Ayushmann has handled such tricky subjects like Vicky Donor , Shubh Mangal Saavdhan , Dum Laga Ke Haisha —very sensitive topics—but neither does he have the bone to do something irresponsible, nor do I. So it’s a strange “laanchhan” (accusation) to say you are promoting something. It’s not that at all. I believe the answer to everything should be in your story, your film, and your writing. That is the best way. One should not dwell on it too much.”
Filmmaker’s Stance on Responsible Comedy
Produced by T Series Films and BR Studios, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do also stars Vijay Raaz, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vishal Vasistha, Guneet Singh, Durgesh Kumar, Ayesha Raza Mishra, Shireesh Kumar Sharma and Deepika Amin. The film releases in theatres on May 15.
Mudassar Aziz firmly asserts that ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ aims for responsible comedy, portraying Ayushmann’s character as a victim of circumstance. The director trusts the film itself will dispel any misconceptions about promoting infidelity, highlighting its focus on genuine humor.
