Face off / Rajeev Masand

Untouched by the failure of Mast, Aftab Shivdasani seems to have finallyfound a place for himself in the movie business.

Having already had one release as a leading actor, and currently shootingfor at least a handful of new films, chocolate-faced Aftab believes actingis what destiny had in store for him. "I think I was born to be here," hesays confidently. "And that’s why I’m giving it all I have," he adds.Luckily for him, he has enjoyed every moment of the job. "It sometimes takesthe juice out of you, but you have to be consistent if you want to achievesuccess," he explains.

At 23, his acting assignments often throw up challenging situations…Admittedly, he doesn’t identify with most of the characters he’s playing. "Ihave to use facial expressions and body language to convey what I need to,"he reveals. At times, he’s expected to display emotions he hasn’t evenexperienced. "In my next film, Kasoor, I play a 32-year-old man," Aftabsays. "That was difficult because there were situations I hadn’t ever facedbefore." However, after much hesitation he agreed to do the film when bothhis producer and director showed confidence in his capabilities.

Although he enjoys the job immensely, he treats it with discipline."Being on the sets is a pleasure, but I don’t take my work lightly," heclaims. He enjoys travelling on the job, and doesn’t complain when he has tomake polite conversation with strangers: all in the name of professionalism."I’m more of a spontaneous actor," he says, adding that he rarely needs toprepare for his scenes. "But if long lines are involved, you’re most likelyto see me mugging them in my make-up room," he confesses. Also, he insistshe’s not in the least bit conscious when performing. "There was someawkwardness initially when I had to do passionate and romantic scenes, butI’m beginning to get over than now."

A die-hard fan of Madhuri Dixit, Aftab rues the fact that nobody willever cast him opposite the actress…
"I’d have loved to work with her, but I guess she’d look older," hecomplains. "Perhaps someday I’ll get the opportunity," he says. "Maybe notopposite her, but even being in the same film as Madhuri Dixit would be likea dream-come true," he gushes.

Didn’t one recent newspaper story suggest a romance between him andco-star Esha Deol?
"Oh, I found that article as surprising as you did," he laughs, dismissingthe rumours. "I get along very well with Esha and her mother Hema Malini,"Aftab explains. "We were recently shooting together in America, and we allgot along like a house on fire," he adds. In fact, his mum was with him too."Esha and I had a hearty laugh over these stories, and it hasn’t affected myworking relationship with her one bit." Incidentally, "Esha knows I’mtotally committed to my girlfriend."

Stardom has changed his life considerably…
Aftab admits that he’s still getting used to the fact that he’s lost hisprivacy forever. "Besides, people’s attitudes have changed," he says."Acquaintances want to be friends, and enemies want to be acquaintances," hesays, laughing loudly, as if he’s finally understood how the system works.

He’s trying not to get carried away by the sudden popularity.
"I’m trying to make sure that my head doesn’t swell up because of all thefame and recognition," he says, admitting that it’s very easy to get allcarried away. "I’m a fairly stable guy," he says, flashing that toothysmile. "I’m educated enough to know that all this is temporary."

Friends and family come first, though.
His busy schedule doesn’t allow him to hang out at the Cricket Club of India(CCI) where he’s practically grown up as a child, but he makes sure hespends enough time with family and friends. "They mean the most to me, and Ineed them around me to feel secure," he reveals.

A South Mumbai lad, Aftab says he won’t move to the suburbs foranything in the world.
"I realised right from the beginning that it was going to be a bothertravelling to the studios everyday, but I refuse to move out," he says."Perhaps I’ll invest in an apartment in the suburbs so I have a place torelax when I’m at that end, but I don’t see myself moving out of Churchgatefor good," he insists.