On my own

Between mouthfuls of breakfast and readying himself for the special screening of his latest release, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Abhay talks incessantly and confidently about his film, the Deol in him and the niche he8217;s carved out for himself in the industry that. 8220;I think it8217;s easier to be an offbeat actor today,8221; he asserts. 8220;With so much talent around and people willing to experiment with progressive scripts, it isn8217;t difficult to do diverse cinema.8221;

The actor debuted in 2004 with Imtiaz Ali8217;s Socha Na Tha, but hasn8217;t rushed into movies, choosing instead to do just six films 8211; each of which stood out for unconventional plots or the different approach to the storyline 8212; over five years. They were not major commercial successes but regardless won him accolades for his performances. As a result, today, the actor may not be the industry8217;s poster boy but he8217;s applauded by critics and his career graph is being observed with great expectations. And none of it has to do with the power of his surname.

Most of his colleagues vouch that he8217;s nothing like the typical Deols and never uses the name to his benefit. 8220;Acting may be family profession but he8217;s chosen the hard way out,8221; says Minissha Lamba, Abhay8217;s co-star in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. Abhay, however, clarifies that acting cannot be in the genes. 8220;But it can have something to do with the environment one grows up in,8221; he says, adding that he wanted to be an actor for as long as he can remember.

The surname has indeed helped him but it has also brought with it prejudices 8211; people expected him to be an action hero in Socha Na Tha, a romantic comedy 8212; but Abhay has worked hard to distance himself from stereotypes. 8220;I am noticed today because I stuck to my guns and choice of the kind of films I wanted to do, which is what brought out my individuality,8221; he asserts.

Abhay has portrayed tremendous potential for 8220;different8221; cinema but the 32-year-old insists that the move hasn8217;t been deliberate and he doesn8217;t intend to slot himself in any category of actors. 8220;I don8217;t mind doing action films; in fact, I8217;m dying to do one. But there has to be some substance in the film I do, something that will make me, as an intelligent viewer, want to watch it,8221; he argues, citing as an example Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. 8220;Well, Ek Chalis8230; was an out-and-out commercial film but it had some superb one-liners, which many people took back home.8221;

The affable actor is also quick to share credit with his directors, most of who have either been debutants or fairly new in the industry. 8220;Maybe it has to do with lack of experience,8221; he chuckles, adding, 8220;No, seriously, when you8217;re experienced you prefer to play safe and go by the formula. Debutants have a fresh approach and that is what probably worked for me.8221;

The directors of future projects, however, are far from inexperienced. Abhay will be seen next in Anurag Kashyap8217;s Dev.D, which releases in February next year. But currently, the talk of the town is his character Lucky, the Punjabi protagonist in Oye Lucky8230;, who, Abhay says, is as mad a Punjabi as himself. Ask him if he8217;s nervous and he quickly shoots back, 8220;I8217;m one of those who don8217;t realise they8217;re travelling till the flight takes off. Right now, I8217;m just packing my bags,8221; he signs off, flashing yet another of his charming smiles.