Abhay Deol has moved from multiplex to mainstream cinema and is all set to showcase his acting chops opposite Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar in his forthcoming movie Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara.
How is the shooting of Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara coming along?
I have never had so much fun shooting for any film.
Are you having fun doing stunts?
I?ve done action stunts before, but in ZMND there aren?t any stunts as such.
How are you enjoying doing a hardcore Bollywood entertainer?
I don?t slot any of my films. Zoya Akhtar is incredibly talented and I could not have asked for better co-actors than Farhan Akhtar and Hrithik Roshan. Excel as a company is the best production house and I?m enjoying the process very much. For the first time, I wish the shooting would never come to an end.
What did you discover about Zoya as a director, and how would you compare the two lady directors Zoya and Rajshree Ojha of Aisha?
I would not compare the ladies. I make no distinction between male and female directors so why would I compare Zoya to Rajji (Rajshree Ojha)? I?m still discovering her though and everyday she throws in a new surprise…
Will the film be complete after the Spain schedule?
Most of it will be. I love Spain and I?m getting to see a lot of it as we are shooting at several different locations.
Did you miss being in Mumbai for the promotions and release of Aisha?
Yes, I did miss all the action that happens during the release of a film, especially when I checked up on the internet with all that was going on.
Were you ever apprehensive of working in a film with a female protagonist?
No, I wasn?t ever apprehensive.
Had you read Emma, when you were approached with Aisha?
No, I had not read it. I liked the script because it had a feel-good air about it. It was witty and I could see it had the potential to work as a film.
How long did you take to say yes to the film?
The film is written by my friend Devika Bhagat. I like her work and she always had me in mind for the role of Arjun Burman. But she and Rajji were doing the rounds of the industry so I waited and let it come back to me via the producers. When Anil Kapoor called me up, I was open to the idea as he is my senior and I respect him a lot.
How did you portray the role of Arjun Burman?
I just followed the direction Rajji gave me. In a nutshell, I saw him as someone brought up in a well-to-do family, with traditional values. He?s a bit uptight but very dependable.
How was it working with Sonam Kapoor?
She?s very sweet and works very hard. We got along rather well so that made the process enjoyable.
Did the other actors like Cyrus Sahukar and Amrita Puri come to you for acting tips?
No, they didn?t. Cyrus kept us entertained throughout the shoot. He?s got an amazing sense of humour. Amrita is a gem of a person, she listened to the director earnestly and what you see on screen is her natural talent. Even while shooting for the film, I had a feeling she would be a revelation.
When are you back in India?
I?m back next month.