Kay Kay Menon, who is frequently praised for his serious and nuanced performances in films, once ventured far beyond his comfort zone for a rare comedic role in In Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd (2007).
Menon is renowned for his intelligent on-screen persona, but his portrayal of a peculiar and uncoordinated Bengali husband in the ensemble romantic dramedy is still one of his most surprising and endearing roles to date.
In a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra on his YouTube podcast, the actor fondly recalled the shoot, particularly the filming of the high-spirited dance number “Sajna Ji Vaari Vaari.”
Reflecting on the eccentric character he played, Kay Kay chuckled, “I played a nerdy guy who unknowingly gets high after drinking something spiked.” He praised director Reema Kagti for her guidance in helping him crack the unusual role. “She was an expert. She gave me a detailed idea. Once I understood it, my character just opened up,” he said.
The song, choreographed by the renowned Farah Khan, could have easily turned into a predictable dance sequence, but Menon had other plans.
“She came aboard the yacht where we were supposed to shoot the dance,” he recounted. “I reached early and told her, ‘Farah, please don’t give me those aerobic-style dance steps.’ She asked, ‘Then what are you going to do?’ I said, ‘Just let me flow with the character. Let my dance be part of the act.’ She agreed.”
His commitment to staying in character during the shoot was so convincing, it took Farah by surprise.
“After a while, she stopped me and said, ‘Kay Kay, are you drunk?’ I said, ‘No yaar.’ She then said, ‘You had some drug?’ She genuinely thought I had taken something. I had to convince her I was just acting. What they don’t know is that I don’t drink at all,” he said, laughing.
Six very different couples are followed on a whimsical group honeymoon to Goa in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, which was produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani and directed by Reema Kagti.
The film, which had a heartfelt and humorous ensemble cast that included Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Raima Sen, and others, examined love, secrets, and the changing dynamics of contemporary relationships.
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