“I LET GO OF KESARI BECAUSE I FELT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO JUSTICE TO THE SUBJECT” -AJAY DEVGN

Jyothi Venkatesh:- A man of few words, Ajay Devgn is a staunch introvert who I have known right from the time he had made his debut in films as a leading man with Phool Aur Kaante as a lean and lanky young man. In this interview, Ajay Devgn talks about his approach to acting and his role as a 50 year old divorcee in his latest film De De Pyar De

film De De Pyar De

What made a hardcore actor like you to say yes to the offer to cast you in debutant Akiv Ali’s film De De Pyar De?

Frankly speaking, till date no one ahs ever come to me with a well written script like this one. I always wait for my next script. I’d call the plot a new age drama. It is a completely entertaining script which has a large number of strong characters which have different layers

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What is your role in the film?

I play a 50 year old guy with two kids of his own who has divorced his wife and is in love with a young girl who is 25 years old. I try my level best to play my age in this film. In any film of mine, you will never ever see me trying to play a 25 year old like I did in Phool Aur Kaante when I made my debut almost 28 years ago

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How tough was it for you to agree to play a 50 year old father in the film?

It was not tough at all. Today times are different whereas 30 to 40 years ago as an actor, you had no choice but to play younger roles and also participate in 5 to 6 songs with the heroine, especially if it is a romantic film. Trust me, today whether it is Akshay or Salman or any other actor, no one has a problem playing his age because your age is transparent. I have always comfortable playing an old man or else I’d have asked Rohit Shetty to change my age or line in films like Golmaal. Today almost every actor, whether it is me, Akshay or for that matter Aamir or Shah Rukh has started playing the role of the father

In what way is the plot similar to Dil Kya Karen?

This is a very romantic film which will also tug at your heart strings at the same time and has nothing to do absolutely with Prakash Jha’s Dil Kya Karen in which I was also a part of the star cast with Kajol and Mahima Chowdhary

film De De Pyar De

How comfortable was it working with Tabu?

Right from Vijaypath, I have always been very comfortable working with Tabu. There is a comfort zone when we are working with each other especially since we can easily say anything to one another and get away with it. Tabu is always an asset as an actor who can deliver an in depth performance

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With Rakul Preet Singh you are working for the first time. How did you find her as an actress?

Though it is for the first time that I am working with Rakul Preet Singh, she is not a new babe in wonderland as she has worked for the last 4 years in almost 17 films including Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films like Yaariyaan and Aiyaary. I should say that though she has worked with me for the first time, she has really impressed me with her talent

Akiv has taken to direction after years of editing films. How is he as a director?

On the sets, the best part of Akiv is that he did not at all behave like an editor. As a director, eh took a lot of our shots and worked on the editing table as an editor. He has the experience of having edited all Luv Ranjan’s films including Akshvani, Pyar Ka Punchnama and Sony Ke Titu Ki Sweety.

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Are you now open to acting in OTT platforms?

As a producer, I am keen on producing films and series for the OTT platforms though I am n lot keen on acting in them though I would say that both Cinema and OTT platform are here to stay. You cannot sit at home and only keep on watching web series 2/7. You also have to set foot outside home for entertainment. Let us not forget that in our country cinema is the only alternative form of entertainment and web series have not taken the country by storm at least as yet.

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Is there any dream role which you have not played till date?

Till someone comes to you and narrates to you a kind of particular role you will not be able to think of any role which you have not played in your career.

Rohit Shetty has moved on from you to Ranveer Singh and now Akshay Kumar in Sooryavanshi. What do you think of this?

Nobody moves on. We are still working together. Rohit made Singham first with me, He made Simmba and now he is making Sooryavanshi. I am there is all of them, whether it was Singham, Simmba or for that matter Sooryavamshi.

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What do you think is the secret of the success of your marriage to Kajol?

Kajol is herself and I am, still myself. To succeed in any marriage, it is very important to stick through thick and thin together.

You do not seem to be too keen on attending any award function though your wife Kajol does not mind. Why?

I have received two national awards as an actor. I do not perform at any award function or attend any award function or host any award function unless it is the national award, because I feel that any award function is just software for TV channels. Till date have you seen any actor who has not attended an award function being conferred with any award?

OK. Why do you avoid TV like plague when the fact is that you had produced a TV serial for Sony and also taken part in reality shows with not only reality shows with your wife Kajol and mother in law Tanuja?

I do not like the concepts which I am being narrated for TV and if I do not like a particular concept for a TV show, I do not agree to do produce or act in a show like that.

Which are the films which you have liked a lot till date?

I have liked films like Titanic and Notebook.

Is it true that you had turned down the offer to act in a film like Kesari when it was offered to you?

Yes. I let the script of Kesari go by myself because I did not think that I could do justice to the script.

What is your next project?

I have signed for one more project with Luv Ranjan as a director. I should say that I agreed to be a part of it only because it is a fabulous project. Ranveer Singh will be my co-actor in the film.

What next, after De De Pyar De?

My next film, after De De Pyar De is going to be Tanaji directed by Bharat Raut. Tanaji besides being a strong biopic is also an action film and we want both the masses as well as the classes to like the film.

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Some of your films sink at the box office while some click. What do you feel?

I work hard in every film that I set out to do. If I am not appreciated in one particular film, it does not mean that I have worked any less in that film.

Who among the new crop of actors do you feel is good?

Everyone is good, from Ranbir Kapoor to Ranveer Singh. They all come prepared to the sets. I just cannot think of any particular names for actors or directors in the new generation.

What do you think of competition in Bollywood today? Who do you think are your competitors in the game today?

If you ask me, frankly I do not think that there is any competition today especially because each and every one ahs got his own individual space and there is no space for one upmanship in the game and what matters is only your intention to do good work.

The industry has moved on from MeToo to MenToo with Karan Oberoi. What is your take on it?

The main difference is between an accused person and a person whose guilt is proven. When some person is only accused and his guilt has not been proved, I think it is very unfair to talk about him. Yes. If a person is proved to be guilty, then you should not work with him. Forget about the person’s career; just think of his personal life

Ajay Devgn

What goads your choice of films as an actor?

I do not want to do two back to back scripts of the same genre. I work hatred in each and every film that if offered to me. If a particular film is not appreciated, it does not mean that I have worked less in it.

The emphasis seems to be on a film making it to the 100 cr league in the first week end. Do you think this trend is advisable?

The emphasis on getting in to the 100 cr league is only a term coined now. It is all relative. If a 15 cr film makes 100 cr, it is better than a 70 cr film fetching 100 cr in the first weekends. Like earlier we used to have silver and golden jubilees, it is just a term to show many have come to watch a film. You should know better Jyothi since you have been in the industry for the last 47 years. All of us actors too have mellowed down over the years but continue to have the same warm relationship though the atmosphere in which we work has definitely changed and nowadays the approach to work is more professional.