By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Dec 4 (IANS) Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar is done with films on grim social issues for the time being and says his next directorial venture will be a laugh riot.

“Yes, I’m starting a comedy, though not slapstick like ‘De Dana Dan’. It would be more like the comedies of Hrishikesh Mukherjee,” Bhandarkar, who is known for making films like “Chandni Bar”, “Satta”, “Page 3″ and “Corporate”, told IANS.

In January next year, the director will launch five films under his banner Bhandarkar Films.

“Two of these will be directed by by me. Three others will be produced by me and directed by newcomers who I think deserve a break,” he said.

The director will direct two films one after the other in the first few months of 2010. While one of them is a comedy, the other will be hard-hitting on women’s subject.

“I’m not giving up my forte. I’m identified with a certain kind of cinema and I’ll continue to make that kind of cinema. Some people said ‘Jail’ was too grim. But I’m satisfied with the end-product and it won’t lose money for anyone. But first I need to spread some laughter,” he said.

On Saturday Bhandarkar had a special screening of his recently released “Jail” in the capital for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani who came with his daughter Pratibha.

“They all loved the film. Pratibha Advani said Jail was my best work to date. After the screening, I asked Advaniji to call up Manoj Bajpai and Neil Nitin Mukesh since he liked their performances so much.”

Bhandarkar also met Ben Kingsley at the 40th International Indian Festival Of India in Goa and the Oscar winning director expressed a keenness to watch his films. He has arranged for them on DVD.