Vikram Bhatt's new comedy "Deewane Hue Pagal" is modelled on the Farrelly brothers' 1998 comedy "There's Something About Mary". But it is not a sequel to Vikram's 2002 comedy "Awara Pagal Deewana".

Says the director: "We do have the same team, plus Shahid Kapoor with whom I have worked for the first time. Even Aftab, who was one of the protagonists the last time, isn't part of the main cast. But he makes a surprise appearance in 'Deewane Hue Pagal'."

Vikram's tone softens when he speaks about Aftab.

"He's my pal. Aftab has done the maximum films with me. In fact we've finished shooting 'Ankahee' where he plays a doctor. We have just started shooting Harry Baweja's next movie where I am also working with Urmila Matondkar for the first time."

Right now Vikram is looking forward to "Deewane Hue Pagal". He admits it derives inspiration from the Hollywood film, just like "Awara Paagal Deewana" was modelled on "The Whole Nine Yards".

"But only the basic plot is the same. The characters are very different from the original.

"See, a comedy can only go a certain way. There will be either a group of men chasing a girl or infidelity or a heist or some other crime. I have chosen the first option."

Vikram admits there's a glut of comedies in Bollywood. "I guess our film industry tends to over-do every genre until it's exhausted.

"I cannot claim 'Deewane Hue Pagal' makes a significant departure from the comic formula. I won't call it a path-breaking film. I will call it a safe film."

Does he feel the comic genre has reached a saturation point?

"Not really. True, 'Shaadi No.1' didn't do well. But 'No Entry' and 'Garam Masala' are hits. And although 'Deewane Hue Pagal' comes close on the heels of 'Garam Masala', I don't think audiences will find my film repetitive.

"What Akshay Kumar did in 'Garam Masala' is quite different from what he'll be seen doing in my film."

Though producer Feroz Nadiadwala and his favorite actor Akshay Kumar are known to make their presence felt on the sets, Vikram has no complaints.

"All the four heroes Akshay, Suneil Shetty, Shahid Kapoor and Paresh have clearly defined roles.

"And, yes, two of them, Suniel and Paresh, play physically challenged characters. But we don't ridicule their handicap. Nor do we use the handicap as a formula."

Having worked with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawail before, the director has established a certain comfort level with the two actors. "But Shahid was a new experience for me. I must say he underestimates himself as an actor.

"He works really hard on every sequence. And though he's fine in a take, he still wants another."