Kunal Kohli on movies, magic and Mary Poppins..

Once and for all, is Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic a desi Mary Poppins?

If I had to make Mary Poppins, wouldn't I buy the rights first? Once and for all, my film is not Mary Poppins. It's about four orphans, an angel who can't love and a man who doesn't know what love is.

Did you see anything like this in the Julie Andrews film?

You can't tell what's inside by looking at a book cover.

You need to read the book, right?

This rumour will be laid to rest once the movie is out. But it has plenty of special effects? So? Look, no matter how hard anyone tries, they won't find any similarities between my film and Mary Poppins.

Wasn't there a tussle of sorts over the film's title?

I had applied for the title to the Guild. They took their time confirming it. But I got it eventually. It's the perfect title for my film.

"Rani wanted to get married and settle down during Mujhse Dosti Karoge. It took some convincing to get that thought off her mind"

We've heard talks that Aditya Chopra's been re-shooting the film?

Adi worked with me at the scripting stage, contributing in terms of ideas. After that there's been no ‘interference'.

So why has it taken you two years to make the movie?

You expect me to make 10 movies in two years? Hey, I'm not a factory.

Apparently, Ameesha Patel has done an item number in TPTM?

I don't think a song in my film would ever be looked on as an item. And it's not nice to call a woman an item. Ameesha is doing a cameo in TPTM, got that?

This is your third film with Rani Mukherji and second with Saif Ali Khan. Was the comfort level higher this time around?

(Laughs) Well, there were no traumatic experiences to write home about. Rani wanted to get married and settle down during Mujhse Dosti Karoge. It took some convincing to get that thought off her mind. Today, she's one of the finest actresses we have with an enviable repertoire. Saif has matured as an actor too. I couldn't be happier for them.

Apparently, Sanjay Gadhvi wanted Saif's dates for his film outside the YRF camp. But they were given to you.

(Sighs) One more rumour! Sanjay is a dear friend. If there was any date hassles, he would have called me and we would have sorted things out. But there were no issues. His film, Kidnap, is with Sanjay Dutt. So, where did Saif come into all this?

Saif wanted to watch TPTM after the debacle of Tashan but you claim to have shown it to him to cheer him up.

He didn't insist. I showed him the film to cheer him up, which it did.

Any plans of expanding your production house?

There are three people I want to give breaks to.. two assistants and a close associate. Whoever finishes work on his script first makes the next movie under my banner.