After setting the Indian comedy space on fire with their crackling chemistry, Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma are back, this time with a generous dose of mythology, madness and meaning. Their upcoming film Rahu Ketu promises what can best be described as cosmic chaos, and if the energy at the interaction is anything to go by, audiences are in for a riotous, thoughtful ride. Backing them is producer Suraj Singh, who believes firmly that some films are simply meant for the big screen.
Directed by Vipul Vig, Rahu Ketu draws from Indian mythology but reframes it through humour. “We didn’t really select Pulkit and Varun,” Suraj Singh says with a smile. “We thought of them and they were kind enough to select us.” That conviction, he adds, came straight from the script. “From day one, we knew yeh hi hain humare Rahu aur Ketu.”
For Pulkit, saying yes was instinctive. “I grew up watching fantasy films like Chhota Chetan, Ajooba, Taqdeerwala,” he recalls. “There’s a child inside me who has always wanted to be part of this genre. When Vipul narrated the film, that child woke up instantly.” The decision was made easier by familiarity. Vipul is a close friend and working with Varun, Pulkit says, never feels like work. “It feels like two friends trying to give their best together.”
Varun, who plays Rahu, admits the title itself sparked curiosity. “Growing up, we’ve always been scared of Rahu and Ketu. Horoscope mein naam aa jaaye toh tension ho jaati hai,” he laughs. What intrigued him was the film’s perspective. “Vipul sir explained that Rahu and Ketu aren’t to be feared. It’s about karma. If your deeds are right, they reward you tenfold. If not, they punish you the same way.”
The mythology, especially the animated song Kaun Hai Rahu Ketu that traces their origin during the samudra manthan, sealed the deal. “It’s humorous, but there’s always a thought running beneath. That combination really excited me.”
The film’s makers were clear about one thing; Rahu Ketu belongs in theatres. “We never make a film thinking OTT or theatrical,” Suraj Singh explains. “We make a film. Its destiny comes later.” He believes comedy, especially, thrives in collective viewing. Varun agrees wholeheartedly. “Comedy is infectious. When 200 people laugh together in a dark hall, perspectives change. That ripple of laughter, that’s real magic. Comedy is best enjoyed as a community.”
Balancing mythology with humour could easily have gone wrong, but Pulkit feels both elements are part of who he is. “My grandparents narrated stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata since childhood. And comedy came from growing up in a Delhi joint family. Both are in my blood,” he says. The intention, he adds, is to remove fear around these mythological ideas. “We hope people come out perceiving Rahu and Ketu in a lighter, happier way.”
There’s a message, but it’s never preachy. “It’s a very thoughtful comedy,” Pulkit says. “Vipul’s writing is never hollow. Like Fukrey, it has soul, but it’s wrapped in madness.”
Recreating their famed chemistry, however, meant doing the opposite of trying too hard. “The key was to not recreate it,” Pulkit explains. “We had to unlearn everything and go back to being those two boys on the first day of Fukrey, surrendering completely to the director’s vision.”
That ease shows in how they speak about each other. Varun describes their bond as almost telepathic. “Silence speaks between us. A glance is enough to know where the scene is going.” Pulkit nods. “We complete each other’s silences. Where I fall short, he completes me, and vice versa.”
Off-screen ambitions are evolving too. Pulkit is diving into sport-action with his upcoming boxing series Glory. “I’m addicted to action now,” he grins. Varun, on the other hand, is eager to explore thrillers. “Grey, negative characters excite me. I want to surprise people.”
As for on-set memories, Varun jokes that whenever Suraj Singh visited the Manali shoot, it rained relentlessly. “We told him, please don’t come!” Pulkit recalls a particularly chaotic sequence rewritten overnight because rain forced the team indoors. “Vipul rewrote the scene on the spot, and the improvisation turned out even funnier. It’s so good that it has even made it to the trailer. That’s Rahu Ketu! Things feel chaotic, but eventually, they work out for the good.”
And that, perhaps, is the film’s philosophy: laugh through the chaos, trust the karma, and enjoy the ride.