Good times are here for Master Anand, who debuted in the Kannada film industry as a child artist.

Anand became famous after starring in the super hit comedy Gowri Ganesha. Friends, in which he was one of the lead actors also brought him success.

Now, not only has the actor tied the knot but is also directing his first film, 5 Idiots. Anand, Vasu, Petrol Prassana, Namratha Hegde and Naveen Krishna, who received appreciation for his performance in Sri Harikathe, are the 'five idiots'. 

Naveen's role was first offered to Sharan but due to non-availability of dates, he was unable to do the project. Comedian Kari Basavaiah will be playing a cop in the film. Chidanand of Paapa Pandu serial fame is also part of the cast.

The unit is currently shooting the second half of the film in Bangalore.

The story hopes to convey to the youth the dangers of irresponsible living. "We hope youngsters will stay away from doing idiotic things after watching our film," says Anand.

The players in the movie are a guy who has lost his job abroad due to recession, another who shies away from family commitments due to his film ambitions and yet another one who neglects his studies and does nothing but waste precious time. These three along with their friends end up in financial trouble. To get out of the mess they decide to kidnap a big shot's daughter for a hefty ransom.

While the team is in talks with a VIP to play the role of the father, Harshika Poonacha will be playing the daughter. "I was a huge fan of Anand's acting in the Vishnuvardhan-starrer Mutthina Hara. I feel great to be sharing space in this film with him. He is also a very capable director," she says.

It is just not Harshika who is confident about Anand's direction skills but the entire team.

Going by the storyline, the film resembles the Aftab Shivdasani-starrer Darwaza Band Rakho. Even the previously titled Machcha bagal hakolo roughly translates to Darwaza Band Karlo.

However Anand says the similarity to the the Hindi movie is only the kidnap angle.

But what about the English title, given the recent ban on using non-Kannada words in film titles?

"Well, we weren't told anything when we approached them. All the same we will give a Kannada subtitle to the film", the team members say.

All this notwithstanding, the team and Naveen assures that people who will watch the film will not feel like idiots. "Even multiplex audience will enjoy 5 Idiots," he insists.