Source: Mumbai Mirror
Date: February 17, 2005
By Subhash K Jha
You've been out of sight for a long time.
Yes, almost two years. I had no choice. I got involved with the scripting of Krissh, so nothing else seemed to excite me at that point of time. But now I'm doing three films. That's the most I've done in a long time. It should put an end to my reputation of being excessively choosy. I don't sit on judgement over the entire industry's scripts, please! I choose instinctively. I react with my heart. There's no point in doing something you aren't excited about because it finally shows in your work.
You always seem audacious in your selections?
That's the thing about life. It's always about facing bigger challenges and choosing the highest summit to climb. How else would you find the threshold of your potential? Might as well choose the riskiest proposition and face your fears.
Is this another character that will connect with kids?
I wouldn't make such assumptions. But both Koi…Mil Gaya and Krissh appealed to the child within me. So hopefully it will connect with the child within audiences too. I don't make a conscious effort to appeal to any particular section of viewers. My main aim as an actor is to take our cinema to the next level.
Is this the Superman ethos?
I don't want to say too much. Let me just say Krissh isn't a derivative of anything you've ever seen. Though it has all the elements of a super-hero film, it isn't a super-hero film.
Is action as satisfying as drama?
Every form of acting depends on your level of concentration. I enjoy both action and drama.
Will Dhoom 2 be the next action film followed by a costume drama Jodha-Akbar?
Are you presuming that Jodha-Akbar will have no action? It will have war, horses and swords. I play a very young Akbar. It's very real, not theatrical at all. We start in August. It's my first costume drama. But I've immense faith in Ashutosh Gowariker's abilities. His intelligent perspective during his narrative convinced me he can never make an actor look bad.
What about Zoya Akhtar's film?
That's meant to start at the end of the year. Right now I'm doing a lot of work, but not as much as I was doing when I had just come in and the dates had got jumbled. At least now I'm doing one film at a time.
You play the antagonist in Dhoom 2?
I'm gonna make the bad look really good.
But playing bad can't come naturally to you.
Oh, that's what you think!
You're boring and straight-forward…
Is being nice boring? I disagree. It's the best way to be. Every experience, good or bad, teaches you something. So why sneer at anything? I accept every situation. I've a calm attitude to life.
I always give the other person the benefit of the doubt. No one is basically bad. Gossip can't make or break convictions. I feel sorry for those who demolish reputations. They don't know better. They obviously don't have talent or power to do anything better.
You have two new co-stars in Dhoom 2 and Krissh?
I've worked with Ash briefly. I must say she's looking stunning. As for Priyanka…I haven't had a better experience working with any co-star. We didn't need time to hit it off. It happened from the word ‘go’.
Fatherhood is around the corner for you.
Right. There's nothing more I can do than look with mystery and awe at this miracle that is growing in front of my eyes. As human beings I don't think we've the capacity to understand this mystery. Fatherhood is one role I can't prepare for at all. This is one role where I'll have to play it completely by the ear. Life is about evolving and here's to the next stage. The baby's around the corner….March-end. This is my biggest release so far.
Do you think you’ll make a good father?
I don't know. I'm speechless.
The child may turn out a bigger actor than you...
Oh God, don't scare me.