Ajay Devgn has made me run from pillar to post for our interview. He’s so busy sometimes you feel he must be two people, considering the amount of work, he put into a day. Right now, he’s busy promoting his forthcoming release Bholaa. And boy is he busy! He cancelled my interview thrice. But he calls me personally and apologies also promises to give me quality time for the chat, next day. “Kal karein?” he asks sweetly. As if I can refuse. I’ve been a fan girl since forever. I’ll go with whatever he says. Damn my deadlines. Next day, he says he has only 15 minutes for me. This with a twinkle in the eye. I know he’ll extend that once he starts talking. He keeps his phone on silent and leans in, listening. His attention is totally focussed on my questions. He’s totally committed. This archer-like ability to focus on the target is the secret to his success. Maybe it’s his blooding demeanour, may be it’s his unconventional looks, he’s managed to hold the female gaze for close to four decades now. He’s counted as an unconventional sex symbol among thinking women while men root for this earthiness. His kind of machismo doesn’t demand showcasing washboard abs. He’s an action star who’s equally adept at comedy, a serious man who is also known for his pranks and is someone who’s equally happy behind the camera as he’s in front of it. He gives due credence to all my questions, and thankfully doesn’t stick to his self-imposed deadline. Excerpts from an engaging interview with the star who doesn’t believe in giving interviews…

Bholaa, Rudra, Shivaay— There seems to be a connection between these titles.

I was telling this to another person the other day. I think this wasn’t really done intentionally. The title of Rudra wasn’t decided by me. When I made Shivaay, I just wanted to make a film in the mountains. Bholaa, I feel like the name suits the character. Kai baar kuch cheezen bas ho jaati hain, without any plan.

The trailer of Bholaa is making waves…

In my films, where there is action, you will see the shooting style is completely different. The action is never copied from any Hollywood film. Otherwise, most Hindi films you see have action sequences you feel you have seen in an English film before. It is good, but you have seen it before. So we’ve tried to create our own new stuff that we had never seen before.

Bholaa is a remake of the South film Kaithi. How different is it from the original?

The base of the story is the same but the whole treatment of the characters has changed. And lots of things have evolved in the film. So when you watch the film, you will not find it as similar. It is my take on Kaithi.

How easy or difficult is it to direct a film in which you’re also starring?

When you do two things together and are passionate about them, everything becomes easy. If you don’t want to do them, everything becomes difficult. The only thing required is hard work, which I love doing, so I don’t have a problem. Since the beginning of my career, I used to operate the camera, assist, and have had this passion to direct. Then I became an actor. I’m just following my passion, that’s all. You just have to be more prepared. The clarity is important because you are doing two to three important things on the set at the same time. Once you have that clarity things run smoothly but if it isn’t there, it is going to mess you up.

Tabu has an important role in Bholaa. You both share an equation right from Vijaypath (1994)

Not just from Vijaypath… I have known her since we were 13-14 years old. Humara equation dosti yaari aur gaali-galauz wala hai. There is a certain comfort zone. I think that equation has never changed. It has remained the same over the years.

You both have another romcom coming..

Yes, there is one. I think it is too early to talk about it.

You once said that you love to break the norms. Can you elaborate on that?

I break the norms in the sense that I have my own style. I have my own rules. You can see that in Runway 34 too. During the most dramatic scene, there is an emotional song playing in the background. The base of any film has to be an emotion. It could be a funny emotion. It could be a sad emotion but without emotion, nothing works, not even comedy. And action doesn’t work at all. When there is emotion behind a kick or a punch, people clap. But if someone is hitting the other person without a reason, no one is going to feel anything, even if the shot is perfect. So emotion has to be present.

As a filmmaker, what changes do you perceive in Hindi cinema?

Our cinema is undergoing a bit of a struggle currently, after the pandemic. The mindset of the masses has changed. In Hollywood too, for example, the films with emotional quotient may get the Oscar but they are mostly watched on OTT. It’s the superhero movies or the big budget action films which are drawing in the crowd into the theatres. Now, we have to decide which films need to be released theatrically and which need to be released on OTT. Some films the viewers would like to watch with their family in the comfort of their homes and others they would prefer to watch as a community in theatres. So there’s better scope for all kinds of cinema today.

You made your debut with Rudra on OTT. How was that experience?

It was the same as shooting a film. I thought it would be a little different, but on the set, it was the same people, the same cameras, the same pattern of shooting—everything is the same. The only thing is that sometimes it gets a little confusing because when you are doing six episodes, all the scenes using the same set are done at the same time. So that is the process. Otherwise, there is no difference, it took as much time as it takes to make a film.

There are so many conversations today about pan-Indian films and South remakes. You have been part of all those worlds. What is your take on the debate

You don’t try to make pan-Indian films, they become pan-Indian films by default. The film that works all over the country is called a pan-Indian film. But when it is being made, I don’t think they plan it that way. They hope it becomes one because we are one industry, the Indian film industry. Language is a barrier but when the product is good, the barrier gets broken down. And now with movies being dubbed into different languages, everything has become pan-Indian. I think Pathaan was dubbed into South languages , so that worked. It’s good for all
of us.

A pan-Indian film you were part of, RRR, has been bagging some incredible laurels. It won the Golden Globes for Naatu naatu, which has been nominated for the Oscars as well.

It’s fabulous. SS Rajamouli is a great director. He really is so dedicated. I mean, working on one film for five to six years, a lot of people won’t do that. He works hard and you can see the result. When you work that hard and are that dedicated, you will get the results.

Did you both share a bond as filmmakers, just talking and understanding movies?

I was watching him while he was shooting, and the way he thinks is fabulous. He had completely memorised all the characters and the story of the Mahabharata. The epic contains many characters for every kind of emotion possible. That one book is such a big school for filmmaking and storytelling. All kinds of heroes or villains are present in the book. All kinds of characters, be they negative, positive, romantic, stoic, cruel, kind-hearted, naive, worldly-wise - everything is present in this one book. There is so much to learn from it. He has completely memorised it. That’s what he told me. He also reads some portions of Mahabharata everyday. So that type of education is unique.

Another South remake, Drishyam 2 did extremely well at the theatres...

The credit does not go to me, it goes to the audience and to the film. Drishyam has become a big brand, so people were waiting for it. And if, on top of that, the film is good, then the best things happen. The audience should have the excitement to go watch a film in the theatres. People have the best of cinema in their hands at home. So unless you give them something different or equally good, they won’t bother going to the theatres. And Drishyam gave them the incentive to hand over their hard earned money and buy a movie ticket.

You, Akshay Kumar, SRK, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan have been ruling the roost for years. What’s the secret of this long span?

I don’t know. I follow my heart and, as I said, passion and hard work. Other than that, I don’t understand all these publicity stunts and all. Even if it works, it is only until a certain point; after that, it is your work, your dedication and your performance towards work that speaks. That is what takes you the long way.

How do you balance between star stature and creativity?

There is nothing about stature that you need to balance. Creativity is there in everything, whether it’s niche cinema or even our cinema. In fact, it is harder in our cinema because you need to provide today’s audiences with a presentation that shouldn’t look like buffoonery or stupidity but that they should enjoy. So walking that thin line is hard.

What is the secret of your successful marriage? What seems remarkable about your marriage is that Kajol and you have retained your distinct identities.

There is no secret; there can never be a secret. It is just that you have to make compromises, you have to be happy in life; otherwise, I can’t guide anyone on some kind of secret. Things either work or they don’t work. I believe that if aap apne kaam se kaam rakho toh things work, whether at work or at home.

Why did you dedicate your Valentine’s Day post to the camera and not Kajol?

(Smiles) Mujhe Valentine’s Day samajh mein nahi aata (I don’t understand the concept of Valentine’s Day). Genuinely. Now I feel like laughing when someone says today is chocolate day, rose day, hug day, or kiss day. Matlab kya hai in sab ka? I think this is all propaganda to sell merchandise, that’s all.

You and Kajol are parents to two teenagers. They’re at an age where they start questioning authority.

It is extremely difficult because a teenager’s mindset is completely different. They haven’t yet reached maturity, but they don’t even rationalise much, and they think very differently from us. That is why we need to find a balance while dealing with them.

What advice do you want to give them as a parent?

You cannot give advice. You can only set an example for them to follow. Everyone goofs around when they’re young and learns from that as they grow up. One mustn’t forget that while trying to deal with one’s kids. You have to show lots of patience and unconditional love. They see how I interact with their mother and how she interacts with me. They pick up on every little thing. And that forms the basis of their own conditioning. So you have to be at your best, always, if you want them to grow up as well-mannered, cultured individuals. It’s not what you say to them, it’s what you show them that counts.

Who is more strict?

Depends; some things are hers, some are mine.

Do the children enjoy watching your films?

My son Yug has now started watching them. My daughter Nysa doesn’t watch our films. She doesn’t have any interest in watching them, at least not yet.

In an interview, Kajol once said she has learned a lot from her kids. Has this happened to you too?

We learn a lot. In fact, the younger generation sometimes says such deep stuff. Sometimes they say such simple things—like they make the thing we are worrying about simple because their minds are not as complicated. They are like, “Just do this or that; what is the problem?” This clarity and thought that today’s generation have is different and unique. And in our industry, especially, it is important to maintain that connection with this generation because you learn so much. You have worked for 30 years with some of the biggest directors who have become outdated and still believe what worked 20 years ago will work now. But you understand what the audience actually wants from this generation. To express an emotion, we used to say 15 lines, ab aaj wahi baat bacche ek line mei samajh jaate hain. Unka matlab hai baat samajh aa gai na ab aage badho. Ab wahi baat aap filmon mei karenge toh nahin chalega. (We used to say 15 lines of dialogue to express something but kids today understand that sentiment in one line.They won’t watch that kind of cinema anymore as it’ll bore them) Learning this is very important.

What sets Kajol apart as a person and as a performer?

Kajol is one of the best performers we have in the country. She is extraordinary. I think as parents, we both have a middle-class mentality. Both my family and her family are from the middle class. Paise se soch nahi badalti. That is the best part of her upbringing. That’s what I like about her. So the kids learn that, and that is a good thing.

Does the constant spotlight on Nysa and Yug bother you?

Yes, it does bother me a lot because you cannot change that. You really don’t know what to do. Because a lot of the time, there are some things written that are not even true. But if you react, they multiply. So it is a tricky situation.

How do you explain the incessant trolling to your children?

You have to constantly explain to them that they shouldn’t be bothered by what they read online. The trolls form a miniscule per cent of your audience. Normal people have thousands of worries of their own to bother about films and film stars. They’d watch a trailer and if they like it, they’d perhaps watch the film. And after watching a film, they’d perhaps discuss it with their friends and family. I don’t think they’d post comments online about a trailer or a film. I’ve asked around and people have told me they’ve never done it. So, I don’t know how such negativity happens. I’ve learnt to ignore it and have asked my children to do the same. I don’t even understand what they write sometimes, so I haven’t let it bother me.

Friendships in this industry are supposed to be fickle but you’ve remained friends with your co-stars and haven’t let rivalries besmirch that.

We may not be meeting in person that much but we still talk. In fact, everyone is just one call away. And we support one another when the need arises. Akshay, Salman, Shah Rukh, Abhishek, even though he’s younger to us, Amitji, Suniel Shetty, Sanju…we trust one another and have been there for one another and we know we can count on one another’s support.

Actors are said to be self-obsessed. Is it true in your case?

Some people are like that, especially those who surround themselves with 15 yes men all the time. But those who’ve grounded themselves in reality aren’t like that. My feet are firmly on the ground. I know our career fluctuates every Friday. So I’m not self-obsessed about success or failure or about my star status, for that matter.

What is Ajay like in real life? Are you really a very serious person?
I’m like an open book. I don’t socialise much or party and I believe in being straightforward all the time. I’m the same both at work and at home. There’s no hidden agenda behind my thoughts and actions. I do things from the heart.

Maybe your reticence has helped develop misconceptions about you?

Yes, it has happened. There’s a misconception that I’m arrogant. But people who’re close to me know the truth. And even outsiders now know that I don’t party and I don’t mingle outside of work. Even they’ve realised that’s my real nature so that misconception has lessened somewhat.

What makes you angry?

Lots of things and nothing. I don’t want to get angry because there is no point. No one is going to be bothered by your anger. Everyone has their own life. If you’re wasting your time being angry, it’s your problem. Earlier I used to get into fights and quarrels when angry but now I don’t care. And people can think what they want. I can’t make everyone happy.

What makes you happy?

My work makes me happy, my children make me happy. When I am not shooting, I prefer spending time at home with them.

What have you learnt in the last four decades of your career?

You never master anything in your life, your work, or your personal life. The day you stop learning, you should stop your work and leave everything behind. Because no one will ever know everything. Even if we do the same thing for 10 days, we learn something new. The scope for improvement is always there.
You’re one of the fittest actors around. What motivates you to get out of bed and hit the gym every day?

I don’t hit the gym every day. I want that kind of motivation. I have to run around so much for work that my motivation to do that for the last six-eight months has become less.
What works in the industry, according to you?

I would say, luck is definitely an element. But nothing works like hard work, dedication, and honesty in your work. That is the only thing that works. More on: Ajay Devgn

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