Amitji along with Jayaji forced me for writing 'Ki & Ka': R. Balki

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Balki have made three movies together as Cheeni Kum, Paa and Shamitabh. First two were successful, third was not. But, that didn't impact the personal as well as professional relationship between the two men. Instead, it was Amitabh himself who pegged Balki to go ahead and begin his fourth movie pronto.

"I did ponder for a while over Shamitabh. However Amitji along with Jayaji forced me to go ahead and kick-start my next. They told me that there was no point sitting and analyzing about what happened with Shamitabh. My producer Anil Naidu joined them as well. Together, they made sure that I begin to write pronto," discloses Balki.

As the germ of an idea that of a married couple with a role reversal of sorts came in it turned out to be a happy narrative experience for the filmmaker.

"When people complimented me for my work (in Paa - 2009), it took me six years to return with my next (Shamitabh - 2015). Now if I started thinking too much about criticism, it would have taken me 10 years," giggles Balki, "So I just went ahead and put together Ki & Ka. I met Kareena and Arjun and soon we were ready to hit the sets."

In the meantime, he made sure that the Bachchan connection stayed on for his movie, despite the new 'jodi' of the two Kapoors.

Balki further reveals, "I said to Amitji that since he and Jayaji had forced me to write the film, they now had to be a part of Ki & Ka. They feature in a very special appearance. You would see that eventually, they are in the center of the narrative."

Still, considering the fact that the three movies so far revolved completely around Amitabh Bachchan, didn't Balki miss the legend's presence for a large part of Ki & Ka shoot?

"Well, if you ask me about missing him then I miss him all the time. It is not just on the sets but when I am in my car or even at home. However, you adjust to that and move on. That said, I am sure you would love what you see of him in the film," promises Balki.

We would indeed once the movie releases all over on 1st April.

No awkward moments between Kareena and Arjun during 'Ki & Ka' shoot!

He is 'most sought munda', while she is a 'desi girl with a royalty connection now'. So what happened when the two met during the making of Ki & Ka which pairs them as a married couple? Were there awkward moments between Arjun Kapoor andKareena Kapoor Khan, not just because of the uniqueness of the parts they play in this 'gender reversal' film, but also due to the fact that she is more than 10 years his senior?

"Well, there was no moment of awkwardness whatsoever," tells Arjun, who has known Kareena for last so many years now, "The film is centered entirely on Kabir and Kia, and hence it was imperative that we get into the right frame of mind. What worked in favor of both of us as well as the film was that we were both very excited about the idea that Balki sir had, as well as the parts that we play."

"Because we were in the right frame of mind, the entire shooting experience was a lot of fun. We were comfortable with each other and a lot relaxed. All of that helped," he reveals further.

Both Kareena Kapoor Khan as well as her elder sister Karisma Kapoor have worked with Arjun's father Boney Kapoor in number of films.

"Yes, Kareena and I have known each other for so long; we understand each other's thinking. Since we are playing a married couple in the film, our mutual comfort had to show on screen too. As for the parts that we are playing, we did a lot of readings and workshops with Balki sir to grasp them better," Arjun continues.

While that camaraderie is reflecting well in the promos so far, one waits to see it in full glory on 1st April once Ki & Ka, which has Balki and Eros coming together, releases all over.