SPECIAL INTERVIEW: “My role in Runway 34 was exciting enough to give me a real kick as an actor”

Rakul Singh Preet tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that as a director, Ajay Sir would never enact and show in front of the actors but just tell us to play with the emotions which are required for the scene which was being shot.

What is your role in Ajay Devgn’s film Runway 34?

I play a pilot named Tanya Albuquerque in the film Runway 34 which has been produced as well as directed by Ajay Devgn who is my co-star in the film. Ajay Sir plays the role of pilot Vikrant Khanna in it.

How would you describe Tanya Albuquerque?

I’d say that Tanya is in complete contrast to what Vikrant Khanna is in the film. In a panic situation, Tanya is perfectly capable of getting crumpled though she is basically a very righteous person by nature. Vikrant is of the opinion that the book is not just enough but you need experience too.

In your last release Attack 1, you did not play the conventional romantic heroine but a scientist. Is your role in Runway 34 a conventional one?

Let me reiterate that my role in Runway 34 is not at all a conventional romantic heroine because for the simple reason that Runway 34 is also not your conventional film which has a run of the well heroine.

Like Attack 1 which was also an entirely different film. These days the narrative of a film has changed a lot. And in Runway 34, there was absolutely no need at all for including any ‘naach gana’

What is the role of Amitabh Bachchan in the film Runway 34?

Amitji, who was like a father figure for both Ajay Sir and I on the sets of the film Runway 34, plays the role of Narayan Vedant.

His role as the interrogator has been very well written and he suits his part every inch and commands respect.

It is Amitji who sets out to interrogate both Ajay and me on what went wrong in the aircraft when both of us were the pilots when the flight took off.

Who is the culprit who breaks the rule- You or Ajay?

All that I can say as of now is that you will get to know who the rule breaker is only when the film releases and till then I can only say that the film is basically about how each and every one goes through turbulence within as well as externally in life. It is about the drama that unfolds when the turbulence takes over.

Why was the original title of the film changed from May Day to Runway 34?

O too asked Ajay Sir why the title May Day was changed mid-way to Runway 34 and he told me that he has had no other alternative but to do so since even some of the educated people did find it difficult to know what exactly means May Day though the audience today is aware of what Runway 34 means.

Did you personally ever experience turbulence in any flight when you were younger?

I was just a seven year old kid when I was on this flight way back in the year 1997. It was a flight from Kolkata to Delhi and I was travelling by that flight with my family consisting of my parents and younger brother Aman Singh Preet who is also all set to make his debut in films soon with his social film Ram Rajya.

It was a one hour flight by ATR and it was heavily raining throughout the flight. After that journey, I refused to go by ATR anywhere and would choose to go by road instead if there was a choice.

Hey Rakul, inadvertently you have revealed what your age is!!

Like Dev Anand, who I have never ever met in my life, I also do believe that age is just a number. Just look at Jenifer Lopes on the international level or for that matter our very own Shilpa Shetty. Can you ever believe what their age is today? They do not look their age because of their confidence and fitness quotient. Isn’t it?

Coming back to your role in Runway 34, would you say that your role was tough by way of performance?

I would not at all call my role in Runway 34 a tough one but it was exciting enough to give me a real kick as an actor.

The Rakul you will get to see me in Runway 34 will be completely in contrast with the Rakul that you saw either in De De Pyar De or for that matter in Attack 1

Please Proceed!

I’d say that my role in Runway 34 is something that made me wake up and start looking out for roles that are equally exciting.

Does your role in Runway 34 give you more dimension that the one in Attack 1 gave you as an actor?

Look here. Attack 1 was a film which had a running time of just one hour and 40 minute, how big do you think my role in that film will be when there is already a second part which is in the offing?

Do you wear heels all the time? What does your favourite airport look like?

While I am travelling; I just cannot wear high heels. As far as airport looks are concerned,, frankly I like the way Disha Patani travels with her airport looks.

Which are your forthcoming films this year?

This year, I think will be very bright as far as my career is concerned since you will get to see me in as many as four different films like Dr G with Ayushmann Khurrana, Chatriwali with Siddharth Malhotra, a film with Akshay Sir which is as yet untitled, besides of course Attack 2.

How was Ajay Devgn as a director?

In just a single word, I’d say that Ajay Sir was amazing. Over the years, Ajay Sir has ghost directed so many films but this was for the first time in my career that I could see him in different roles as a producer, director handling seven cameras and also acting at the same time.

What? Seven cameras?

Yes. Ajay Sir had recreated a cockpit on the sets and since it was supposed to be a confined space he knew how difficult it was to recreate scenes once the shoot is over and hence did not want to take any chances.

He used to make it a point to check each and every co-actor’s performance, rehearse with all of us and then go and change his costumes and set the scene for the next shot.

As a director, Ajay Sir would never enact in front of the actors how we should act but just tell us to play with the emotions which are required for the scene which was being shot.

How easy or tough was it for you to display your emotions in front of the camera?

Every actor operates in an entirely different manner. As an actor, I just believe mentally that it is happening. Pain is difficult to create whereas making others laugh is very easy.

When you faced the camera along with Ajay or Amitabh Bachchan, did you get nervous at any time?

I could spend more time with Amitji because he always used to report on the sets at least an hour before the others trooped in.

I am not the kind of actor who would get inhibited. If I was to give in to my nervous energy because it would definitely mean that I am a failure as far as my craft is concerned.

So I naturally try to put my best foot forward. If you do that, I am sure your performance will always be better than that of your co-actor.