Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 6: The beloved ‘Housefull’ franchise returns with even more madness in its fifth installment, ‘Housefull 5’, helmed by director Tarun Mansukhani. The film promises double the laughter and double the surprises—literally—as it features two different climaxes, a bold and rare move in Bollywood.
“It was definitely challenging,” Mansukhani told ANI. “But Sajid sir had this idea 30 years ago and finally brought it to ‘Housefull 5’. Shooting two climaxes was creatively thrilling and logistically demanding.”
Two Endings, One Laughter Riot
Filming dual climaxes required careful planning. “We were often shooting both versions simultaneously, and mistakes were easy to make,” the director admitted. “Thanks to a brilliant team—my associate director and DOP—we kept things on track.”
Packed Star Cast Brings More Than Star Power
The film features a massive ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Fardeen Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Chunky Pandey, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Dino Morea, Ranjeet, Nikitin Dheer, and Soundarya Sharma.
Despite the sheer number of actors, Mansukhani didn’t feel overwhelmed.
“I’ve worked on multistarrer films before. The challenge was not the number of actors, but doing justice to each character’s arc in scenes with 19 people,” he said.
Filming on a Cruise: A Wobbly Adventure
Set on a luxurious cruise, ‘Housefull 5’ took the comedy to open waters—literally.
“Shooting on a ship was tough. The constant rocking made it hard to stabilize the camera and the actors. But the confined environment helped us bond as a team,” Mansukhani shared.
Teaser Controversy & Calm Amid Chaos
A teaser for the film was briefly removed from YouTube due to copyright issues on May 9. Mansukhani, however, stayed focused on his job.
“My work ends with creating the teaser. The rest is for the producer. Sajid Nadiadwala is someone who solves problems silently and moves on,” he said, brushing off the episode as just “a little problem, not a controversy.”
Balancing Expectations in a Sequel
On the pressure of continuing a successful franchise, Mansukhani remarked:
“My job is to deliver an entertaining film—one that audiences enjoy, remember, and laugh with. The rest—budget, returns, etc.—is the producer’s domain.”
About the Franchise
The ‘Housefull’ series began in 2010, known for its slapstick humor and chaotic storytelling. Over the years, it has grown into one of Bollywood’s most successful comedy franchises, with Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh as regular fixtures.