'Mumbai Xpress is better than Munnabhai!'

A rarity for an actor-producer, Kamal Haasan [ Images ] seems so taken by the script of his upcoming comedy, Mumbai [ Images ] Xpress, that he just can't stop chuckling about it!

In the first part of an exclusive conversation with Entertainment Correspondent Raja Sen, Kamal reveals why the new film with Manisha Koirala [ Images ] has him gushing, and how confident he is about Mumbai Xpress, which releases on April 14.

What's the first thing you'd like to tell us about Mumbai Xpress?

Watch it! (Laughs) Actually, I'll say 'watch out' because I don't want you sitting at home and watching the film on VCD. It's going to be an entertainer we're proud to present with great enthusiasm. I think it'll be equally met with audience enthusiasm.

We enjoyed making this film. We were laughing through the making of it, so hopefully the distributors and exhibitors will also laugh -- on the way to the bank!

You've written the script for the film?

Yes, but the dialogues are by Saurabhji (Shukla), which is a great value addition. The dialogues (Shukla has written) are based on my Tamil version, but I'd like to say -- this isn't humility but my duty to mention -- it's not a copy, it's not a replica. The dialogues are original in certain scenes, where it departs from the Tamil version. It's got the same content, and the difference between the two versions is five seconds: that's how close it is, in spite of the deviation.