Friends with benefits

Comedy is your strength now instead of action…
Everybody dies for an image here. I was lucky to have earned the action-hero image very early in my career. Whenever I tried something else,it backfired,until Gopi Kishan happened. Here,I got a chance to portray both my action and comic side. Post that,Hera Pheri and Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar kept the momentum going.

So no more action roles?
When I was campaigning in Nashik,all that people wanted to see were my biceps and it is this audience that decides your fortune at the box office. But there aren’t good action movies these days. I have signed an action film—the remake of Malayalam blockbuster Kirti Chakra,directed by Major Ravi,where I play a commando. Also,I have Anees Bazmee’s No Problem,an action comedy,and then Hera Pheri 4.

Does Red Alert also fit into the action genre?
It is not an action film,but a serious social film. It just won the Director’s Vision Award at Stuttgart Film Festival.

With your production house and other businesses taking a lot of your time,did acting take a backseat for a while?
That was not because of my businesses. I wasn’t getting good movies. Even if I did these movies,it would only increase my bank balance.

As a producer what kind of movies do you want to back?
As long as they are successful,I am okay with any genre. For now,Mumbai Chakachak and Loot are due for release.

Any plans of venturing into television production?
I intend to,but I am disillusioned by the market condition. We all know we are in a crunch and we cannot fool ourselves. I will study the market and only then plunge into it.

You are a huge cricket buff,but your involvement in IPL has been nil.
I wouldn’t buy a team because I don’t have that much money,although I do support Mumbai Indians. Also,when you are passionate about a particular sport,you cannot possibly do business with it.