AJAY DEVGN: IF AN ACTOR SAYS BOX OFFICE NUMBERS DO NOT MATTER, HE/SHE IS LYING
The actor says OTT platforms have been godsend during the pandemic; adds that people now visit theatres only if the film is worth their while
Sustaining a position at the top for 30 years is no small feat. Ajay Devgn has managed to do just that, with his swag intact. His last film Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020) was his 100th film but he is still raring to go not just as an actor but also a maker in 2021.
You started off at a time when a film’s success meant its run time in theatres. Even until they shut down due to Covid-19, it was about opening day or weekend collections. Do you feel it has become too much about numbers?
There are several trophies marking the golden and silver jubilees of yesteryear films in my office. Most of them were given to my father, Veeru Devgan who was an A-grade action-director. They are a reminder of the golden period in cinema when films ran uninterrupted for 50 and 25 weeks. In recent years, theatrical revenues have worked on a hit and run basis. It has nothing to do with the pandemic. It is because we have so many other avenues to consume our entertainment. Naturally, you will only visit a theatre if a film is worth your while.
How important are box office numbers to you today?
If any actor or filmmaker anywhere in the universe tells you that box office doesn’t matter, he/she is lying. OTT doesn’t give us that joy but the good thing is it takes our films to a worldwide audience. In situations like a pandemic, it is godsend.
You are now working on your next directorial, MayDay. What made you decide to take over the reins as a maker again?
I’m born to films and I love films. Even when I’m idle, I only thinking of films. MayDay is a script that excites me. I want to tell a story that has heart and thrills. I’m also fortunate to have Amitabh Bachchan in it. Directing a legend like him was on my bucket list.
You are always pitted against other superstars. How do you perceive the rat race?
If you are a commodity, you will always be compared. Initially comparisons matter. They even make you bitter. But after 100 films, comparisons only help in making you better. You recognise your USP and then you work at enhancing it. Indian cinema had superstars in the days of Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. They ruled for decades. After that, every Friday brought a new superstar.