Welcome 2 Karachi, which released on May 28, has been produced by Vashu Bhagnani and directed by Ashish R. Mohan (Khiladi 786) and stars Arshad Warsi and newcomer Jackky Bhagnani.

The director was recently in Karachi and Images on Sunday caught up with him for a chat regarding the film and its technicalities, and also his future plans.

What is the basic idea behind Welcome 2 Karachi?

Ashish R. Mohan: It’s a story about two ‘dumb and dumber’ characters who accidentally end up in Karachi without passports or any legal documents whatsoever. What happens to them and how they keep getting into trouble results in this roller coaster ride featuring non-stop laughs and entertainment.

But the poster for the film doesn’t really depict Karachi at all…

ARM: In the poster we have tried to add a few elements from their journey. In the film they reach Karachi twice: once accidentally and the second time intentionally as they feel Karachi is the only place in Pakistan where they made friends and from where they can get a chance to return to India.

What does ‘Confusion Ahead’ under the main title refer to?

ARM: It simply refers to the various kinds of confusion our two characters create and end up getting into one after another.

Why choose Karachi?

ARM: Actually, Karachi is known to be a sister city to Mumbai and one can expect the same amount of craziness in Karachi as in Mumbai. I also feel the city has a very pure soul just like Mumbai. The story required the protagonists to cross the border and get stuck in a city. Towards the end of their journey the characters realise that human nature is the same everywhere and it’s just a perception that divides us as nations.

How was it shooting with Pakistani artistes Ayub Khoso and Adnan Tipu?

ARM: They’re amazing, talent actors. I really enjoyed working with them.

Why didn’t you shoot in Karachi?

ARM: We wanted to but the perception about the city was not too positive around the time we were working on the film. We couldn’t get security clearance at that time but I do regret not shooting there as I later found the city to be quite safe when I visited it.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, June 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play