‘I’VE BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE’
The Baadshaho actor, Ajay Devgn feels he has been ‘lucky’ that the last 26 years in Bollywood have gone by smoothly, so much so that he didn’t even realise so much time has passed
Right now, Nysa is not in the mood to join the industry. She wants to study, and I am happy with that. AJAY DEVGN, ACTOR
Back in 1991, he made his big Bollywood debut with Phool Aur Kaante. Ever since, Ajay Devgn steadily went about achieving box office success as well as critical acclaim. Even 26 years later, the superstar feels if there are expectations from him, it will “only work in a positive manner.” The actor takes us through his journey of life, films, his kids and more.
2017 is your 26th year in the industry. How do you look back?
I don’t remember half of the things (laughs). The other day, I was shooting for a song, ‘Neend churaayi meri’ that we have used in Golmaal Again, and everyone was asking, ‘where it was shot and what happened on the sets?’ But I didn’t remember anything apart from the fact that it’s a song from Ishq (1997) and I featured in it. I remember a few important things but for the rest of things, I keep thinking, ‘yeh hua tha? Kab hua tha?’
How would you define your journey?
My journey has been fabulous and very smooth. Touchwood, I’ve been very lucky. Yes, everyone has to work hard but I didn’t have to struggle for each and every thing. That’s why I feel 25-26 years have gone by smoothly so much so that I didn’t even realise it. So that way, I have been very fortunate.
How much does success or failure affect you? Are you immune to all of this now?
I won’t use the word ‘immune’. But after a point, you don’t get extremely excited if your film does well, and don’t get depressed too, if it doesn’t hit the bullseye. Things are no longer on that level now. Now, it’s part-andparcel of the game. When a film doesn’t do well, you only feel, ‘I will work more, and put in more hard work’; at least that’s what I feel.
Are things today absolutely different from the ’90s?
During the ’90s, we never bothered (smiles). We used to work in 18 films at a time. In fact, we wouldn’t even keep count of the [film’s] numbers as to which film released and which one didn’t. But now, it has all changed. The pressure has increased now, thanks to the media and market forces. So, now, you concentrate on your product, and try to make a good film. In the ’90s, nobody bothered much about a lot of things.
In your new film, Baadshaho, you have worked with Milan Luthria (director) again. Besides him, what made you sign the film?
Absolutely, Milan was a factor that made me sign it, and the script. I have a great rapport with him, and he is a very good director too. Milan knows me well, and his mindset is exactly the same as mine. So, an incident took place in Rajasthan — whether it’s true or not we don’t know — but we wove a story around that idea in the film, which is very interesting.
I hate it. I change the channel whenever I see a film of mine playing on TV (laughs). I feel weird watching it. I don’t know why, but even if there’s a film that did well and got me a lot of appreciation, when I see it now, I feel, ‘Bahut kharaab kiya tha maine; better kar sakta tha.’ But I feel it’s good if you see your own work and feel that you could have done better.