Sharp Learning Curve

I am excited,but I am not one of those who gets nervous around the time of a release. So I am okay, he says while waiting for final numbers to pour in. Considering theres another weekend before the Diwali films come in,the producers are optimistic.

Apurva Nagpal,MD,Saregama India,that produced the film,says,The film opened across India to 40-50 per cent and is likely to pick up. My gut-feeling is that it will pick up and everyone seems to have enjoyed John.

If the film wins the box-office battle,Abraham will be that much closer to being considered a bankable solo hero,a tag that has eluded him so far. Some of his more successful films like Garam Masala,Dhoom,New York and Dostana have all been two-hero films. While his film with director Nishikant Kamat is a solo-hero project,other films such as Dostana 2,Race 2 Saif Ali Khan and Desi Boys Akshay Kumar are not. To his credit,through the success and failure of his films,the actor has been picking up varied projects multi-starrers,experimental or masala films striking the right balance. Excerpts from an interview.

Isnt it risky to do a romantic film where the female lead is not an established heroine?
If you had an established heroine opposite me the chances of a guaranteed opening would be higher. The fact that she is new may not entirely work in our favour but let me tell you that its good because we could not have a well-known heroine play someone who works in a DVD store.

Would you now work with established heroines or rank newcomers?
Theres a dearth of heroines. Many of them are retiring or reinventing their careers. As far as I know,most actresses want to do candyfloss films. I do a lot of experimental cinema and want to do a lot of action so I might not fit into their scheme of things. Unfortunate. I wish to see heroines do action. Like Bipasha for example,is in the best shape today and I wish to see her do action films. I think Deepika has a great body for action. Priyanka Chopra in Khatron Ke Khiladi,though she did not perform any stunts,has a great body for action too!

And then you have a very different role in Saat Khoon Maaf with Vishal Bhardwaj,yet another director known for reinventing his stars8230;
Saat Khoon Maaf is very much like what Brad Pitt did in Cohen brothers film Burn After Reading. Vishal told me,Do it for the kink of it!

And I did. I got two damn good songs and its pretty much a shocker when you see what I have done in that film. I play one of Priyankas seven husbands and I am in august company of Naseersaab and Irrfan among others.

Bad boy roles seem to work better for you.
I love my negative characters. When I play negative,I really work. In Saat Khoon Maaf,I play a heroin addict,which will pretty much shock people. Before this,Zinda was pretty bad while Dhoom a little negative8230;

Considering how important romantic heroes are to Hindi films,how have you fared?
Jhootha8230; will tell whether I am good as a romantic hero or not. This is my first romantic filmits come a little late in the day. Abbas didnt allow me to go the gym,and if I dont work out I lose weight. So this is a completely different me. I have done experimental films but this involved experimenting with my looks in a mainstream film.

There was some disappointment with Rahmans music for the film8230;comment
I think the criticism was also because of the Commonwealth Games. I think that what he8217;s done with our music is outstanding. Usually,I dont like the music of most of my films. But this one is differentthe song Call me dil is something I am obsessed with. The last obsessive song for me was Zinda and before that Awaarapan,banjaarapan from Jism. For me to like something is a tall order. Yesudas8217; son has sung a song in the movie. Its outstanding. The music will grow on you.

You mentioned that the films look is very Notting Hilldo you think that works with our audience? After all,this year has been all about the return of desi?
I dont understand why we are still following the herd mentality. When a producer tells me,Dabangg jaisi picture banaate hain I am worried. You cant generalise. When you think like that,it is the beginning of the end. You have to understand that each film has got its core competence. One cant keep remaking a Rang De Basanti or Dil Chahta Hai.

Your next is a remake of a Tamil film.
Now I am working on Khaaka Khaaka with Nishikant Kamat produced by Vipul Shah and Fox. After that it will be Desi Boys with Akshay. It will be our first film together after Garam Masala.

Would you give television shows a shot?
I go on TV shows for promoting my films but I dont know if I will be able to handle a whole show by myself. At this point,I dont think I have it in me.

After surviving the industry for seven years whats the next big challenge?
Just keep trying to shock the audience and do things better. I have to keep pushing the boundary and keep doing cinema that is special. I hope I can do it in a legitimate way with good films,not with crap. Its only been seven years and people are making me sound like a veteran! Its been okay but I could do far better.

Are you headed to Hollywood anytime soon?
There is something happening but have been told not to speak about it. It is an out-and-out Hollywood project.

There was a Deepa Mehta film that you were supposed to work in after Water8230; What happened?
Deepa wanted to work with Akshay on a film and I think thats a very wise decision. Commerce with art can be a great combination.

What does the next year have in store-commercial masala films or experimental films?
Next year is going to be all about comedy,action and masala,all the twos! I am doing Dostana 2 and Race 2.

How do you work out the high-star-pricing and project feasibility?
I hardly charge and that is why I am co-producing because you take responsibility for the film. I am co-producing a film with Reliance and Rose Films with newcomer Kapil Sharma as director as also the film with Sabal Shekhawat.

Who are the directors with whom you wish to work?
Only directors who think different will approach me for films. The regular directors would like to keep their jewels in their pocket and stay with commercial names. I think you really need to look out and do different things but not too many people are doing that. Its up to big directors to make a change. Rang De Basanti was a change in the right direction for that but such films are few and far between.

After seven years in the industry,where would you like to position yourself?
A space where there is a complete vacuum is the action hero space and that is something I want to concentrate on. We have enough of boys,not enough men. The closest we came were Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar who have moved into spaces that are far more commercial. If these guys come back they are light years ahead of me but if I could do that,it would be great.

What sort of cinema would you like to create?
I want to make high-concept films within a budget that is conducive for the audience and for the trade/producer,but films that people understand and make people say It is such a beautiful film.

Five to eight years down the line I am going to end up directing8230; its just a matter of time.

priyanka.sinhaexpressindia.com