If I were to generalise, the bigger the Bollywood star, the bigger their tantrums. But imagine my surprise when I had a chunky rule book thrown at me just before I was connected to rising actor Prateik on Monday to speak about his latest drama Ekk Deewana Tha (There was a passionate lover).
His agent politely informed me that I shouldn't address the five-film-old Prateik by his last name (Babbar - long convoluted, fractured family story, to be explained a little later); I shouldn't ask him about his family (again related to the first request); and that I shouldn't ask him any personal questions (his rumoured romance with his co-star Amy Jackson is occupying more column inches than the plot of this latest film). After being stood up several times on Sunday, I acquiesced to the requests and patiently waited for the apparently attitude-laden star to take my call. So it was a relief when Prateik — the son of the late, legendary, actress Smita Patel and actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar — turned out to be quite an ordinary guy and not the control freak I was led to expect. "Just be yourself and that always works," he said.
Film folklore has it that Prateik, who made his debut in 2008 romantic drama Jaane Tu ... Ya Jaane Na as the quirky bro who had a rat for a pet, led a colourful life. Reports of alleged substance abuse dominated his teenage years, while his estranged relationship with his father-politician has been in the rumour mill for long. Some time last year, Prateik decided to drop his father's name in the quest to carve out his own identity. Those close to him brushed off the move as Prateik "going through one of his phases".
Fortunately, when tabloid! caught up with his he was not going through any such "phase".
Excerpts from the interview.
"It's perfect timing"
Ekk Deewana Tha releases just about three days after Valentine's Day [in India] and it's pretty much perfect timing because it's a romantic film. But it's much more than a romantic comedy — it's a drama and is perfect for all the love birds to go and watch this cute film. And even though there are elements of comedy in it, it's not in-your-face gags. It's more about reality involved in relationships. It's about all those realistic situations that come up when a guy and a girl are insanely in love with each other. It's about first love and different aspects of it."
"I did not want to look like other actors"
It's a remake of Tamil film [Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa] and Telugu film [Ye Maaya Chesave]. It's the exact same story with the exact same characters. But what I brought to the table is my own interpretation of the role. I made a conscious effort not to look like other actors. I worked with my own instincts here.
"Amy is amazing"
Amy is really talented and a pleasure to work with. We did work on building our chemistry because in a romantic film it's important to look convincing as a pair.
"Link-ups are a part of our life"
Given that Ekk Dewaana Tha is a romantic film about a relationship between a boy and a girl, it's only natural that such things happen. We just brush it off and don't let all of that affect us. [Incidentally, Prateik spent Valentine's Day with co-star Amy Jackson, marketing their flick before it reached the theatres today in the UAE.]
"I didn't think about acting."
To be honest with you, when I signed on Jaane Tu … Ya Jaane Na, I treated it like a vacation. I thought to myself — there will be a fancy hotel room, a pool while I shoot. [That] is how I entered films. But now I have started taking acting seriously. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I wasn't sure if I really wanted it badly enough. And the more you face the camera, the more you get used to it. I love the fact that you get to be different people every day and you get to tell their stories.
"The Taj Mahal scene was memorable"
The scene had dialogues over three pages long and all of it had to be said in one shot. Saying it well, keeping the emotions in place and looking convincing wasn't easy. But I am glad that I could pull it off.
"I don't know if I would have been accepted a decade ago."
I am glad that I am being welcomed well and accepted for the work I do. I am not a person who likes to look back. I just want to look forward and keep working.
