When you get a chance to feature on 70mm, you don’t think about the character: Aakash

Actor Aakash Ahuja is basking in the attention received after his Bollywood debut, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. Many actors might feel apprehensive about playing a negative role in their first film, but Aakash says, “If you are working in the industry, you want to see yourself on the 70mm screen. When you get a chance to be on it, you don’t think about what the character is — negative or positive. Negative roles give you more scope to perform. We all have a negative side in us...to be able to highlight that is a great opportunity for me!”

The film, which marked the debut of actor Sunny Deol’s son Karan, and Sahher Bambba, was much hyped before its release but it failed to make a mark at the box-office. Aakash, too, was disheartened by it. “I haven’t had the time to react to anything, but

I haven’t had the time to react to anything, but people have been very kind. It’s a very satisfying feeling, having put in all the hard work… I would have enjoyed it more if the film would have done well.

AAKASH AHUJA ACTOR

people have been very kind. It’s a very satisfying feeling, having put in all the hard work… I would have enjoyed it more if the film would have done well. It wasn’t up to our expectations,” says the 28year-old.

The actor has come a long way from being a shy guy in school, who found it difficult to talk to people, to being in a career where you have to deal with people all the time. “In school, I was a shy guy, and I still am,” says Aakash, adding, “But that’s (acting) our work. My personality is still the same, and to get rid of that shyness, [you have to be able to] talk to people. That ice-breaking happens when somebody comes up to you after seeing your performance. I slowly gained confidence after doing theatre.”