‘DON’T TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED’

Ajay Devgn talks about facing the camera and being particular about the projects he associates with

It took them seven years, but the makers of the hit comedy franchise, Golmaal, are finally back with the latest film in the series. After a hattrick at the box office with the previous three films, the new movie, titled Golmaal Again, features Ajay Devgn in the lead role once again, along with additions to the cast. We caught up with the actor to talk about the film, why the project took so long, and more.

When Rohit Shetty offered Golmaal Again to you, did you agree right away?

It doesn’t happen like that with Rohit. He came across an idea and narrated it to me four years ago. I loved the idea and he started working on the script. He usually comes to me with an idea, we toy with it, and then he works towards it, and that’s fabulous.

Golmaal Again was fun; the new cast were just as fun. It’s just like a big picnic.

Did you face a lot of pressure given that Golmaal is a hit franchise?

There is pressure, which is why it took us so many years. You have to get the right script; one that justifies what the audience expects out of the Golmaal series. It should be better than what you expect. If the franchise is so big, you can’t just ruin it with one film. I guess the pressure is good.

How hard or easy is comedy for you at this stage?

Nothing is actually easy. For an actor, it is never [about] the genre. If you’re an actor, you never think like, ‘Today I am going to do comedy or an emotional scene’. You have to become the character and be whatever the character demands. Nothing comes easy, but you have to make it seem so. So my attempt — whatever the genre — is to make it look real. It should never look like acting. That’s what I try to do, and that’s what works for me.

Do you still get nervous on the first day of a film shoot?

Yes, but not just on the first day. We could behave like we are very much at ease. When I say I don’t prepare myself, all that is fine, and I really don’t. But when you’re standing in front of the camera and before the shot starts, you wonder if you’ll be able to pull off this shot. That keeps you going. You don’t take anything for granted.

Nothing comes easily, but you have to do it with ease. So my attempt — whatever the genre — is to make it look real. AJAY DEVGN, ACTOR