Black comedy is serious business

Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ajay Devgn

Even as the Hindi film industry is telling unusual stories and embracing different genres, it has maintained a safe distance from black comedies. That hasn't deterred Ajay Devgn and Siddharth Roy Kapur from betting big on their production, Gobar. The satire, set in the cow belt of India during the '90s and inspired by true events, tells the story of a bumbling veterinarian who chances upon a web of corruption in the state hospital.

As he gears up to take the Sabal Shekhawat-directed film on floors, Kapur admits it will be a tough genre to pull off. "It is difficult to get the right tone in your writing. You can't go overboard one way or the other - you have to make a point without making it in-your-face. You have to make it funny and insightful at the same time. It all depends on the quality of writing and the performance. Satire is a tricky genre," he explains.

With Gobar, Kapur hopes to highlight the growing corruption in the system, while underlining that the common man has more power than he thinks. He adds, "It's the story of how an unlikely hero emerges when he finds himself in a [difficult] situation." The team is expected to announce the cast soon.