In Abhay Deol’s latest political thriller Chakravyuh, he plays a gun-toting Maoist rebel Kabir. But there were no traces of that haggard idealistic Maoism when he visited fashion boutique Carnival in Jumeirah on Monday night.

Clad in a black jacket and a trendy, slim tie, he hugged the dozens of shrieking shoppers and happily posed for cameras.

Comment about his transformation and he says flippantly: “Tonight, I am a rockstar not a rebel.”

But don’t be fooled by his easy going nature. Any actor who has worked under Prakash Jha, the director of hard-hitting films such as the political drama Rajneeti and caste reservation drama Aarakshan, will tell you that looking good is not the only skill required in his camp. Jha’s content-driven ensemble dramas touch upon India’s burning socio-political issues and the stories are told by a talented set of scruffy actors.

“In Chakravyuh, we are tackling a serious issue of naxalism [Maoist movement] who are fighting for equality in their society. But we do it in an engaging and entertaining manner,” said Deol in an interview with tabloid!. The plot follows two best friends, one a high-ranking cop Adil (Arjun Rampal) who believes in fighting injustices within the system and his friend Kabir who begins to empathise with the anti-establishment naxal philosophy. The Naxals are far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political ideology.

“The best part about Chakravyuh is that Prakash Jha doesn’t take sides. He presents a topic and then allows the viewers to debate in their heads. In his films, it never just about black or white,” said Deol. He’s one of the few actors who has straddled commercial and art house cinema with ease. From a confused lover in Socha Na Tha to an arrogant government official in Shanghai, Deol has played a variety of roles with conviction.

Meanwhile, Jha says shunning escapist cinema is not always a bad thing in Bollywood, a preserve for musicals.

“There is always more than one way to entertain your viewers. I have chosen a slightly different track,” said Jha.

Five minutes with Abhay Deol

“When I was a student I was a leftist”

I studied in a college in Los Angeles where students were politically active and aware of the issues surrounding them. Plus, I was at an age where you tend to be more idealistic. I was all about standing up for your own rights and being vocal about it.

“Prakash Jha takes a neutral view in Chakravyuh”

He’s an honest and a passionate filmmaker. With this film in particular, he has refrained from taking sides. Through my character Kabir (a maoist rebel) he represents one point of view and through Arjun [Rampal, a cop] he presents another point of view. The format of Chakravyuh is structured under the framework of friends who share different ideologies about the naxal movement. But remember, it’s got a classic structure of a Hindi film where two thick friends eventually become enemies.

“Kabir in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Kabir in Chakravyuh belong to two different worlds ...”

In Zindagi, I play a privileged kid torn in love. He’s not sure if he loves this woman or not. In Chakravyuh, the war raging inside him is more intense. He’s torn between standing up for his political beliefs and his friend who has an opposing view. But if you ask me which was tougher to play, then these two roles can never be compared. You needed to occupy a different mind space.

“My role in Shanghai was the toughest ...”

Playing the South Indian bureaucrat in the political thriller Shanghai was a difficult one to pull off because I had to put on an accent that I wasn’t familiar with. If you have superficial elements such as a fake accent then it becomes difficult. In Chakravyuh, all I had to justify the stand I take in the film. I needed to put that across to the viewers well, that was my challenge.

“Chakravyuh acquaints you with another side of India”

It’s an entertaining film. Even if you are in the UAE which is governed by a different set of laws, this film will take you inside the world of another culture. You may not be familiar India or its way of functioning but it’s a perfect way to peek into an unfamiliar country. The best part is that it tells you a story in an engaging manner.