‘ The new generation is very practical’
At this stage of your career, does a new film excite you as much as Phool Aur Kaante (1991) did?
Doing a film always excites you because when you start work on it, you have no idea whether you will be able to pull it off. On the first day (of the shoot), you always feel, ‘will I be able to get the character right’? If you get it right on the first day, things become smooth. So, there is always a bit of nervousness, and it is good. It should not go away, because otherwise, you get over-confident.
At this point, expectations are really high from an Ajay Devgn film. Does that affect or put more pressure on you?
No, I feel expectation makes you work harder, which is a good thing. If you know people have expectations, you get a little scared, perform better and don’t take things very lightly. Currently, as per the trade world and the market, it’s a good thing. If taken in a positive way, expectations will work in a positive manner. Whether a film works or not depends on the audience and God. But, when you give your best, at least, you don’t feel that you didn’t work hard or concentrate fully.
Have those expectations made you more careful about your career choices?
I can never be too careful as I always follow my heart. If I like something from my heart, I go ahead and do it without thinking what will happen, and that is a part of my attitude. I have tried to maintain a balance, which is the most important thing. You first need to enjoy the process of film-making. Then, the film releases, and since you have worked hard, you expect the film to work. Also, I can’t work with people who I don’t like. I can’t be like, ‘if I work with them for 100 days, I will get a hit’. I can’t do that. It’s not that you need to work with friends only. I am ready to work with anybody but I should like the person.
Recently, you talked about how the aura of stardom is dying nowadays…
I think earlier, when we were kids, we always thought, ‘yeh aadmi kaisa hoga, itna bada star hai, kya karta hoga.’ Stars are also normal people. But, when you don’t know something, you are intrigued about it. Now, you know everything about every person. So, that intrigue and aura is dying.
In the past you have worked with your contemporaries such as Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar. But, now, new-age actors don’t seem to be doing that. Is this because of ego clashes?
Not ego, but I think earlier, there was this warmth that is diminishing now. People have become more professional now. Earlier, we would think from our hearts. But, now, everyone is practical, which is good for them and their careers. Being emotional, we have committed a lot of mistakes in our life. We do the same even now as we can’t change ourselves. The new generation is very practical, which is good for them, but the warmth is missing.
Earlier, everyone, be it you, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan, had very loyal fan bases. But that doesn’t seem to be the case now…
It’s because the audience is constantly evolving. In a way, it’s a good thing because more than the stars, they want to watch a good product. Aap chahe jo bhi ho, they don’t care. So, regardless of how big a star you are, if your film isn’t good, it won’t work.
Baadshaho looks a difficult film to shoot.
Yes, it was a difficult terrain. When we were shooting, we wondered how people live there in such small houses, with water scarcity and in such heat and sand. So, while shooting, the sand would constantly blow and it was in our eyes and ears. We couldn’t even see anything. Plus, it was really hot. We were a bit lucky. Towards the end (of the shoot), the weather became quite hot, but, overall it was good.
We heard that the film required a lot of travelling…
Yes, I don’t know how many kilometres we must have travelled. We had to go to-andfro at least 250km to the place where we filmed the climax. So, yes, things were very tough. There wasn’t a single tree or even a small shaded area. I have done such films before. So, it’s not as if it was a major problem for me.
As you team up with Milan Luthria again, does it help to work with someone with whom you have already worked with?
Yes, you get a little comfortable since you already share a rapport with him. So, the director knows how the actor will exactly perform and behave while an actor –– if he knows the director well –– is also aware what the director is looking at. So, there’s a sense of ease and a comfort level. On the first day, you don’t have to gauge the director. Since you know each other’s temperament and styles of working, it becomes easier to get into the character.