Tabu calls Ajay Devgn a ‘silent bully’: ‘If you ask me about my friendship with him, he will end it himself’

“My first question to Neeraj (Pandey, the director of the film) was, what about the younger part? When he assured me that different actors would portray our younger selves, I was relieved. Sometimes, de-aging can seem gimmicky, especially if the audience is familiar with our current appearances,” she explained.

The 52-year-old, who believes in embracing ageing gracefully, “Audiences have seen how we look now. The suitability of older actors playing younger roles depends on the film and its context. In Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, it was better handled with younger actors.”

Tabu reflected on the evolution of casting practices in Bollywood, noting that age-appropriate casting was more prevalent in the past. “Previously, different actors played younger versions before they grew into roles like Dharmendra or Dilip Kumar. This film continues that tradition,” she emphasised.

Regarding roles as a younger woman, Tabu differentiated herself from male counterparts, stating, “Unlike them, I wouldn’t accept such roles anymore. I don’t see myself playing a 30-year-old character. I have to embrace my age,” she asserted candidly.

Interestingly in  one of the scenes in Crew, Tabu watches intently as Kareena Kapoor Khan’s character meticulously applies her makeup. Unable to hold back any longer, she quips sharply, “Bas kar Cleopatra! Make-up hai, time machine nahi (Stop it Cleopatra! It’s just makeup, not a time machine).”

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha marks Tabu’s tenth collaboration with Ajay Devgn, reflecting a friendship that spans decades beyond their professional partnership. Despite their frequent on-screen collaborations, Tabu humorously remarked about their enduring bond, saying, “If you ask me about my friendship with Ajay one more time, he might just end it himself!”

Tabu has often playfully described Ajay as a ‘bully’ with a subtle approach to mischief, especially when it comes to teasing others. “He’s a silent bully. You’d never suspect he’s up to something. He has a sneaky and sweet way of pulling pranks. He’s quite mischievous,” she revealed.

During the trailer launch of their latest film, she shared how Ajay enjoys gossip, playfully shifting the blame onto her. Does she actually hold a vault of Bollywood gossip? “No, that’s completely untrue. He’s just trying to tarnish my reputation! He said that because I once mentioned that he’s always curious about gossip. This is his way of diverting attention. I hardly know anything about anyone in the industry. In fact, I barely know enough about myself!” she quipped, laughing off the teasing.

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is set to release in theatres on August 12.