Off the beaten track

Who finally breaks into mainstream commercial cinema with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara fits into his character of Kabir the..

Who finally breaks into mainstream commercial cinema with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara fits into his character of Kabir the architect with a nagging girlfriend rather well. Known for doing out-of-the-box films,he took everyone by surprise with his recent outing,and is suddenly the center of attention for the smooth transition. However,trade analyst Amod Mehra is not surprised. A career was always there for Abhay,but he chose a different path,and now it depends on him how he wants to take it forward. With Zindagi8230; he has become a cult figure and his image as a rebel has only made him more attractive. If only he makes himself more accessible to his audience,he can do still better for himself, prophesises Mehra.

Theres no denying that Deol is pleased with the numbers that the film has grossed,but he also concedes that the films success has not changed his criterion for selecting a film. The role I take on,is always going to be different and one that interests me. The film has to be plot-driven and strong on content,and thats never going to change. Zindagi.. may be a commercial hit but it is the kind of film I have always done. Just because it happens to have a big-budget and stars,it doesnt change the fact that it is a character-driven piece. I havent compromised on the kind of stuff I do,instead it has enhanced it. It may look like formula on the surface but its not your typical stuff,because the characters are not what you see in a regular Hindi film, dimples the actor.

So what does the films success mean to him?

Having a successful commercial film behind me and then signing on more commercial films is no big deal. But if my next release gets a bigger platform,then it means something to me. If this films success means that my next film Shanghai is going to get propped up and the distributors and producers are going to show more confidence and it will be marketed in a big way,then the success means something. Then I can say I am reaping the success of ZNMD, says the actor candidly.

Talking about Shanghai,he says that it is not as extreme as Delhi Belly and not as commercial as a Zindagi,but that it has its own space. Dibakar is going to put two songs and its got action and romance. So I hope it gets a bit more confidence from the producers. Emraan Hashmi is coming out of a big hit in Murder 2 as well and Kalki has also been part of Zindagi.. so it looks like the film has a lot going on for it, says the actor who is playing a serious,egoistic and upright South Indian IAS officer in the political thriller.

He is just back from PVR cinemas where he went to interact with the audience and was pleased to see that the theater was still housefull. People are saying that it is just a youth film but its more than that. The best part is that its not raunchy and the romance is treated so sensitively. You can sit and watch it with your family. I am happy that they loved my track,and everyone wants to know when part two is coming, chirps the actor.

As for the song-and-dance which he seemed to be enjoy doing in the film he laughs. I have never been against it. I have done it in the past. In Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.,I had a song as I did in Aisha. In Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local,I had a music video. Its not that I have not done it,but this is a big film and people are more aware of it .

And what does it take for a multiplex hero to turn into a hit film wonder? I dont know if theres a formula that turns a multiplex hero into a hit film wonder. I guess you should just stay true to your beliefs. If its a mass film that you like,then go ahead and do it and give it your 100 per cent,if there is something you want to do for your own satisfaction then go ahead and do that. For me,it was this inner urge to act,and the idea of mass- appeal did not enter my head. Of course I wanted people to come and watch my movies,but it was more of an outlet for me to grow as an artiste. Beyond that it depends on the marketing, he said.

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The actor does believe that there is a definite audience for the multiplex theaters and one for the the single- screens. I am not the one to judge the criterion of a multiplex and single-screen audience,but I think there is a division. However the boundary between that is blurring every year. Popular actors can choose between one and the other,but most actors want to be a part of both. And personally I would like to be a part of both too. But with the kind of choices I make,people say that they work more in the multiplexes. If that is true then I am fine with being a multiplex actor. I believe the multiplex is here to dictate what cinema is going to be like in the future as every year the audience wants something new and then newer, says the actor,whose next film is Navdeep Singhs film on zombies,for which he starts shooting in September.

Like his choice of films,his personal life is very intriguing. He has openly said that he prefers live-in relationships over marriage. So what is the best thing about it?

Its not that I like living-in over marriage,but I have always maintained that if I settle down with someone I would rather live-in than marry. Its a personal choice because I dont think I need to sign on a piece of paper to legitimise my relationship. Nature doesnt tell you that you cant be with a person till you sign this paper. Its a personal view,and whatever makes you happy. He adds that he is going on a holiday for two months. Where and with whom,he is not telling!

geety.sahgalexpressindia.com