New gen’s very professional

I don’t regret working on a friendly basis says Ajay Devgan

From starting his career with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 to doing the Golmaal franchise, we have seen so many shades of Ajay Devgan — from a lover to an intense angry man to a man who would make us laugh throughout. He has time and again surprised us with his performance and has given critically and commercially successful films like Ishq, Zakhm, Gangajal, Apaharan, Omkara, Golmaal franchise, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Raajneeti, Singham and Drishyam among many. And, his performances have also won him two National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards besides being honoured by Padma Shri.

The actor has completed 28 years in the industry but he feels like it all started just yesterday. “When you look back, you realise it has been 28 years but whenever I meet my old friends and talk, it seems like yeh kal ki baat hai ( it is all a matter of just yesterday). Though we all have undergone certain physical changes owing to the growing age, it feels the same otherwise,” says the actor who will soon turn 50.

Being in the industry for so long, Ajay has also done work purely for friendship and the actor has no regrets for the same. Speaking about the same, Ajay says, “If I have worked for someone on a friendly basis, I do not regret it. Also, being here in the industry for so many years, I feel like extending our help. And, if it brings a smile on their faces’ or if benefit with our support then why not?”

Is it something to do with his generation and does this attitude exists in the new generation? “We, rather our generation, has grown up learning this attitude of extending out help to each other. So, how much ever we think that next time I won’t do something for the sake of friendship, we would forget it and go forward to helping everyone. Can’t change our upbringing of being there for someone and that’s the way we have moved ahead in life,” says Ajay and admits, “Yes, the new generation is indeed very professional. And, in a way, it is good for them to be professional.”

It is said that whichever films Ajay works in, he becomes a co- producer of the film like Bol Bachchan, Singham Returns and his upcoming film Total Dhammal. When Ajay was asked about the same, he says, “It is not like that! A film is set up through several ways, for instance, when the budget of the film starts increasing, you come on board as a partner only to save the producer because sometimes they can’t afford it. So, this makes it convenient to make the film. Total Dhamaal is being made with an exorbitant budget and thus we made it together.”

Total Dhamaal starring Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Javed Jaffrey, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Esha Gupta and Anil Kapoor is all set to hit the silver screen soon.

“Can’t change our upbringing of being there for someone and that’s the way we have moved ahead in life.”