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INTERVIEW

He is unafraid to take risks and his choice of films are a proof of that. A tyrant boyfriend in Hum Kisise Kam Nahin. A self-assured don in Company. An uncompromising leader in The Legend of Bhagat Singh and an obsessive lover in Deewangee. If 2002 proved a lucrative year for Ajay Devgan, 2003 has even better things in store for the actor. In a soul-searching interview, Devgan analyses what goes into essaying every role.

hat made Ram Gopal Varma offer you Company?
It’s sheer destiny. I wasn’t originally supposed to do Company. Ram Gopal Varma approached me a year ago to narrate me another subject. He told me that he would start shooting only eight months later, after he had finished his current project. Just by the way, as is Ramu’s habit, he began narrating the story idea of Company to me. Next day, he phoned to say that he wanted to meet for ten minutes. When we met again, he said that while he was narrating the script to me, he saw flashes of Malik in me. Until then, he wanted to make the film with a new actor but now he said he had changed his mind and wanted me for the role.

How do you work on a character like Malik? After all you’ve never interacted with a real life underworld don?
One doesn’t have to. Whatever I knew of the character was through Ramu’s research. Besides, we weren’t exactly following Dawood or Chotta Rajan. The joy of working with a director like Ramu is that if you concentrate on his first narration, you almost get it right. Even though he does not carry a working script with him, the details are crystal clear in his mind. He came for 10 minutes but stayed for three hours. It was an exhaustive narration complete with shot divisions. That is why I’ve always said that all credit for my performance, goes to the director.

Still, the projection has to come from the actor, so how do you prepare for a role?
This may sound strange but the only way I can prepare for a role is to switch off. I have to be completely blank and absorb the character like a sponge. It is a silent process for me. If the director is competent, he can trust me to give a competent performance. If not, I have to rely on my instinct.

Hum Kisise Kam Nahin Lajja Company Company The Legend of Bhagat Singh

All actors talk about instinct but there has to be a method of delivering the expression too.
There is and the rhythm differs from performer to performer. For me, I’m anxiety ridden for the first few shots. Then gradually, as the scenes progress, unconsciously one hits on the right chord. The trick is to recognize the signal.

And what was that moment of recognition whilst shooting Company?
For Company, we began shooting with my introductory scene with Vivek Oberoi where I ask him Kitna lega? That’s my first meeting with the young boy and I knew that I had to convey my superiority through body language. Ramuji had insisted that Malik’s character would under no provocation get aggressive. He had explained that the character would talk less and listen more… He reads people’s faces and makes decision. I remembered that and this comes through in my performance particularly the scene where Antara Mali pleads me for Vivek’s life.

How confident are you as an artiste or do you need assurance from your director?
I’m confident about myself but if the rest of the cast performs better then you automatically give your best. The collective effort is good for the film. Reactions always help but I wouldn’t feel insecure if the director didn’t pat my back after a good shot. Once he has explained the character graph to me, I wouldn’t want to be demanding of him. Too much discussion can also create confusion. A little distance is necessary to reflect and gather your creativity.

How would you describe Ram Gopal Varma as a director?
He is very flexible and does not believe that the written word is law. He is open to to a constructive suggestion from anyone in the unit. Our equation is completely devoid of ego. When in disagreement, either he convinces me or I convince him.

What made Rajkumar Santoshi sign you for Bhagat Singh?
Again I wasn’t Santoshi’s first choice for the role. Two years ago, during the shooting of Lajja Santoshi told me that he was writing Bhagat Singh which he planned to make with a newcomer. Santoshi was very happy with my weight loss and said that if in six months time he did not find a suitable newcomer, he would cast me in the role because I resembled Bhagat Singh. And six months later, he had not found a newcomer and so cast me for the part. I was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. They sent me huge piles of research material on the subject. And just watching their level of preparedness, I was charged as well.

This was your first historical portrayal, were you nervous?
I was nervous in the sense that there was a constant lurking fear that we shouldn’t wrong a leader whom history had wronged already. Bhagat Singh was an extraordinary character and this is apparent in the small and big things he accomplished. He fasted for 83 days and inspired his colleagues to do the same. When we had to shoot the starvation scenes, my colleagues had not eaten for three days to get into the mood, as a result on the day of the shooting, they were breaking down!

Bhoot Qayamat Gangajal Khaki

What about you?
I didn’t even attempt to starve. I told you I am not a method actor. I have to feel hunger not become hungry. But let me tell you playing heroes like Bhagat Singh isn’t easy. I felt inadequate all the time because it’s when projecting their strength one realizes that one hasn’t accomplished even a fraction of what they strived for his countrymen.

Did playing a role like him change you in any way?
Change is a very dramatic word but I definitely started thinking differently. How much of these noble thoughts one can put into practice, I don’t know. It made me realize that Bhagat Singh’s saga has got more to do with humanity than patriotism. History was unable to value him as a human being. Today, we have gone far beyond patriotism. Sad as it is, all of us have accepted corruption as a way of life. The killings and growing restlessness in our society is a proof of that.

Who is to be blamed for this loss of idealism?
All of us I guess. All of us have become impotent in the rising social injustices around us. Whenever something goes wrong, we say, ‘What can I do?’ Yet we do nothing to improve situations and therefore frustration prevails.

There is an old theory that frustration brings revolution.
That can be relevant for larger issues but not on a personal level. As an actor I cannot give my best if I’m not at peace with myself. I would do anything to bust pressure and strive for serenity.

Is that the reason you smoke so much? To kill pressure?
No, I smoke because I smoke. There are no reasons for it.

Were there any self-doubts before saying yes to a negative role like Deewangee?
The role was so fascinating. I had never been offered an evil character like this earlier and I just could not say no. The interesting bit was after I said ‘yes’, no hero was willing to do the positive role. Four leading men were signed and backed out of the project after saying yes. Ultimately Akshaye Khanna said ‘yes’ and he was perfect for the part.

It was a complex role that needed tight rope walking as an actor. Did you at any time fear losing the character?
Not the character but I was unsure of my being able to sustain my stammering. That’s when I discovered that a person who stammers, every time he gets stuck, automatically changes the word and moves ahead. That’s what I have done too.

Did you feel the need to consult a psychiatrist to portray the role more realistically?
I did meet a psychiatrist but not during the film, after the film and that too by accident. I shared my portrayal of a split personality with him and he agreed with my projection.

You sometimes give the impression of being too complacent. Are you?
There are two ways of viewing it. I appear complacent because I’m not displaying my restlessness or ambition. The fact is that when in front of the camera, I’m not cheating and if I’m able to convey this sincerity to my audience, my fans should have no complaints.

How did your fans react to your negative portrayal?
You will be shocked to know this but people empathized with my role in the film. When I beat up the girl, the audience gets up and claps. I cannot understand their psyche. What kind of a moral society are we living in?

Last year belonged to you, had you envisaged it would be such a glorious year?
Not when you are going through the motions, in retrospect yes, it has been a satisfactory year with versatile performances.

And what’s in store this year?
JP Dutta’s LOC, Ram Gopal Varma’s Bhoot, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Khaki, Ramu’s next project, also Prakash Jha’s Gangajal. The project I was most looking forward to and now has come true is our home production, our baby.

Qayamat Producer: Paramjeet Baweja Director: Harry Baweja Cast: Ajay Devgan, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Kapoor, Chunkey Pandey, Arbaaz Khan, Ayub Khan, Isha Koppikar, Riya Sen, Neha Dhupia, Raveena Tandon (s.a.) and Ashish Chowdhary. Harry Baweja on Ajay Devgan: “Ajay and I share a great rapport. I am very happy with the way my film has shaped up and a lot of it is because of Ajay’s co-operation.” Ajay Devgan on Qayamat : “I play an intense character who takes drugs to overcome the depression in his life. My character goes through a range of emotions. The audience will also see me in a new look.” Bhoot Producer: Dream Merchants Director: Ram Gopal Varma Cast: Rekha, Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar, Urmila, Fardeen Khan Ram Gopal Verma on Ajay Devgan: “Without the slightest fuss, Ajay gives maximum to every scene.” Ajay Devgan on Bhoot: “Bhoot has an original script and a very interesting cast. The film story is going to take the audience by surprise. L.O.C. Producer: J.P. Films Director: J.P. Dutta Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Nagarjuna, Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai, Raveena Tandon, Kareena Kapoor J.P.Dutta on Ajay Devgan: “His eyes are blank when you give instructions but start the camera and he is a different man.” Ajay Devgan on L.O.C: “I play Manoj Pandey from the Gorkha Battalion who gets a Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in the war.” Khakee Producer: Keshu Ramsay Director: Raj Kumar Santoshi Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Khanna, Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai and Jaya Prada Raj Kumar Santoshi: “There is a festering quality about him as an actor which is very attractive.” Ajay Devgan on Khakee: “After The Legend of Bhagat Singh I can’t say ‘no’ to Raj Kumar Santoshi. I have full faith in his directorial abilities and trust that he would not cast me if he didn’t think I was suitable for the role.” Ganga Jal-The Holy Weapon Producer: Entertainment One India Pvt. Ltd Director: Prakash Jha Cast: Ajay Devgan, Gracy Singh Prakash Jha on Ajay Devgan: “Ajay is an amazing human being. It’s a privilege to direct a first rate actor of his stature. This is our second film together after Dil Kya Kare and we enjoy working together. Ajay Devgan on Ganga Jal: “All my professional decisions have been instinctive, including this one.” Zameen Producer: N.R. Pachisia Director: Rohit Shetty Cast: Ajay Devgan, Amisha Patel, Mahima Chaudhary Rohit Shetty on Ajay Devgan: “I know Ajay since the time I used to assist Kuku Kohli...since the Suhaag and Haqeeqat days. Ajay is a great help on the sets. He doesn't throw any tantrums and is present on the sets even when not required. It has been a great experience working with him.” Ajay Devgan on Zameen: “Working with someone you understand lifts your comfort zone and makes the experience worthwhile.”