Face-Off

Aly is more proud of the cooking show. How did he get to anchor it? Is he an expert chef?

quot;Ican manage in the kitchen.quot; No more than that. More than cooking, actually, Aly likes to eat. quot;I do have a bit of a gourmet palate, but desi khana remains my favourite.quot;

On air, his favourite show is his new project and Aly is really most excited about Wuthering Heights.

Vikram Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt are the director-producer team behind the Hindi adaptation of this Emily Bronte novel. Called Dhund, Aly is playing Amar, the desi Heathcliffe. Pooja and Ashutosh Rana are also acting in this serial.

Works of Bronte, plays by Harold Pinter 8230; it seems that Aly likes heavy stuff?

quot;I have done light stuff like Yeh Hai Raaz. I am concerned that Dhund might be a little too heavy. But it really is compelling viewing and well-adapted. Once you start watching the serial, you will be hooked.quot;

Hang on a minute. Pause. Rewind. What was so comical about Yeh Hai Raaz? Didn8217;t he play a criminal?

quot;It was structured to be funny, but I am not sure whathappened in the end.quot;

Would he like to do comedy?

quot;I could never do slapstick stuff 8230; I prefer intense roles.quot; Aly would prefer not to do romantic and frivolous parts either.

Does that mean he is not a romantic person?

quot;Oh! I am a die-hard romantic.quot; But he is not so sure if he would like to play the typical romantic Hindi film hero. Though he is open to Bollywood. quot;That8217;s where the big bucks are.quot;

Aly has done an offbeat film with Rajat Kapoor and Nasseerudin Shah called Private Detective. And he hopes to do more films and maybe even get a chance to play anti-hero. quot;I hope to be in Mahesh Bhattsaab8217;s next film.quot;

Hmmm8230; He is acting with Pooja on the box, wants to work with Mahesh and is sharing the stage with Mahesh8217;s wife Soni Razdan in Games People Play. He seems quite the member of the Bhatt coterie?

quot;It8217;s kind of weird considering I only got to know them about a year and a half ago.quot;

But isn8217;t it strange working with Pooja? If one is to believefilm magazines then the two of them were meant to have split up recently?

quot;We are the best of friends and speak to each other every day.quot; In fact, Aly wants to direct his own play next year and would like Pooja to make her stage debut in this production.

Neat fielding. Alright, we8217;ll stick to professional matters. What sort of play does he want to direct?

quot;A slice of life kind of play.quot;

Right now, his life is weighted under criticism 8212; for his work in Games People Play?

quot;I take criticism positively if it comes from someone I respect.quot; And Aly is the first to admit that the first couple of performances were on the weak side. quot;We were too casual in our thought process.quot; But he promises that Raell, Soni and he have been working hard to iron out the problems.

So who does he think is flawless in their workstyle?

quot;Hima Devi is my guru.quot; Aly did Hamlet with her over five years ago. And in film, it comes as no surprise that Aly loves Zakhm, a MaheshBhatt production. He also thinks that one of his favourite authors, Wilbur Smith, would make a great Hindi film writer. quot;I like all his books and his stories could be adapted for the big screen very easily.quot;

Does he have any other hobbies except reading?

Yes, he loves to travel 8212; in fact, at one time he hosted Namaste, a travel show produced by Anu Malhotra. And he is a keen sportsman, with a great passion for white-water rafting and horse racing.

So, if he was not an actor, what would he be?

quot;I8217;d be a salesman. I could sell an igloo to an eskimo.quot;

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