BROTHERS IN ARMS
After Shool, which was released late last year, Chal Mere Bhai is my first film this year. Of course, I hope it does well. It deserves to, because it's a clean, complete entertainer.

It's about two brothers, who're very close to each other. One keeps the family empire going and works hard at it. The other is a playboy, the darling of his brother's eye, and of his grandmother, but their father wants him to mend his ways. Then, out of the blue, a girl enters their lives. Karisma Kapoor walks into Sanjay Dutt's office at first and subsequently, both brothers fall head over heels in love with her. The family wants her to marry the elder brother, who agrees to the alliance, little knowing that his little brother has his eyes on the girl, too. Who gets the girl in the end is a little surprise. We'll save it till you've seen the film.

All stories are almost the same, how it's packaged is what sets it apart. In this film the relationship between the two brothers is very positive and I'm sure, when you walk out of the theatre, you'd do so with a happy feeling. It has all the necessary ingredients needed for a good film. It's fast-paced, has good music, splendid locales, impressive sets, great production values and to top it all, the chemistry between the two stars, Salman and Sanjay needs special mention. It's among the movie's biggest highlights.

As for pairing them together, I'd say they are the handsomest hunks in our industry, today. Moreover they have a great fan following and are 'fit and hit' heroes. The magic does reflect on screen. This is their first film together, after the phenomenally successful Saajan.

MUSIC, SLOW POISON
The music of the film has just been released and it is picking up slowly. It is like slow poison, and makes a slow impact. Something tells me, by the time the film is released, the music will have begun to go great guns.

There is a song in the film which does resemble a number from Naseeb. In my film too, the two brothers sing a song, which comes just before the climax. It has a striking resemblance to the Amitabh Bachchan-Rishi Kapoor song, of course, but unlike it, this one's been sung by Salman and Sanjay, themselves. I think it's a great attraction.

We have shot the song with a lot of feeling, treated it as if it contributes to the evolution of the plot. It's turned out well. When we asked the duo if they could sing it themselves, so that it gives the number a personal touch, they readily agreed. Most of the songs have been sung by Sanjay Dutt, sound easy on the ears and are visually appealing.
In real life, Salman Khan's in awe of Sanjay Dutt. It's no secret between them, and they're very close to each other, almost like brothers. The vibes do show on screen.

A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE
Actually, Sanjay and Salman were automatic choices for the roles. I had their dates with me as they were doing Dus. We couldn't complete that film without its director, Mukul Anand. With Mukul's death, the film died too. When the script of Chal Mere Bhai came to me, I approached David Dhawan to direct it for me. He liked the script and soon, we launched the film with Sanjay, Salman and Karisma in the lead.

The shoots have been a hectic, roller-coaster ride. Fortunately, we had no star tantrums to encounter. And even before we realised it, the film was complete. We were almost sorry the picnic had ended!

THE IMPRESSIVE CREDITS
Besides Salman and Sanjay, there's Karisma, who plays the girl who comes looking for a job. Also in the cast are Shakti Kapoor, Asrani, Himani Shivpuri, Sushma Seth and Dalip Tahil.

Then of course, there's our Midas man, David Dhawan, himself. David has, time and again, proved his success is no fluke. In this film, he's gone a little off the track as far as the treatment goes. It's not the typical David Dhawan film the audience has come to expect, that much I can assure you. It does have elements of comedy, but it's also strong on content. And as with every David Dhawan film, this one too, is slickly edited, and will offer you no respite to blink, let alone think.

Had my previous film, Bol Radha Bol, directed by him been released today, it would have been branded as a typical David Dhawan film. It was a fast film with subtle comedy, with a good story. This is my third film with him. During the making of our first film, he was not very successful. So he was quite happy with the results. The second, Eena Meena Deka didn't do well at the box-office. But he was a big name by then. And now I hope this film does well. For him, me and everybody.