'I don't work in films for awards'

Ajay Devgan and Kajol will be back again together on screen. And the admission comes straight from the horse’s mouth. In a rare interview taken on location at Satara during the shooting of Prakash Jha’s film Apaharan, Ajay Devgan speaks of his contempt for awards, his co-actors and his plans for the future. Excerpts:

Tell us whether you and Kajol are going to face the camera for an ad campaign?

It is one 100 per cent true that Kajol and I have agreed to endorse the whole range of Whirlpool products. It is for the first time that I am venturing into endorsements.

Besides the fact that we are getting good money, it has been a longstanding demand from our fans, who are keen on watching us work together. Now that our daughter Nysa is two years old, Kajol can take time off to work outside home.

We have been signed for three years. It will be for the seventh time that Kajol and I will be facing the camera together. We had earlier worked together in Goondaraj, Hulchul, Pyar To Hona Hi Tha, Ishq, Raju Chacha and Dil Kya Kare.

How do you react when cynics snigger that you and Kajol have agreed to work for Whirlpool only because your films are not doing well at the box office?

On the contrary, Whirlpool guys have approached us only because my films are dong well at the box office and hence they consider us a safe bet.

What is your role in Prakash Jha’s Apaharan?

In Apaharan, I play Ajay Shastri, who is the main protagonist. I play a guy burdened by the expectations of my deeply principled and self-righteous social activist father, played by Mohan Agashe. I am compelled to travel a path that is completely divergent from that of my father.

Can you talk more about the role?

In Apaharan, I play a medical representative. My moods in the film keep on changing. As an actor, I like to keep experimenting by taking a break after every film release. In the movie, I love Bipasha Basu but lose her to Khalid Emraan. When I come face-to face with her, I realise that the guy I have kidnapped is none other than her husband.

Why do you do negative roles?

You cannot call it negative. It has several interesting shades to it. I do not think Khakee was a wrong move on my part. I am an actor. Besides, the fact remains that I accepted Khakee because of my thirst as an actor and because I wanted to work with Rajkumar Santoshi.

Personally, I do not think I should do more negative roles. You will be surprised to know that I have been receiving letters from women that I shouldn’t do negative roles but the men want me to.

Did you agree to work in Apaharan just to win an award?

You do not work in a film only to get an award. In any case, I don’t believe in any of these so-called popular awards. You work in a film only to do justice to your work. Award is just a kind of appreciation for your work. When you agree to do a film, you see everything in totality. The script comes first but the character tends to excite me as an actor.

Do you think Apaharan will set out to glorify the gory act of kidnapping?

No. I do not think so. A sensitive director like Prakash Jha will never send out wrong signals through his film because a film is an explosive medium of communication.

How is it to work with a temperamental actor like Nana Patekar?

This is my second film with Nana Patekar. I had earlier worked with him in Bhoot. We share an excellent rapport. We have promised each other that we would work together in more films in future. I admire him for his acting as well as his directing. But I have no plans to take up direction in the near future.

Why do you accept films like Insaan?

I think it was a mistake to have done Insaan. I agreed to do the film only for the sake of Rajji. Sometimes, you agree to a film for the sake of relationships and friends. While I was working on the film, I realised that I had made a mistake but I do not believe in stalling a project just because I do not like the way a film is progressing, at the cost of the poor producers. It has become necessary to know who your producer is.

Do you concede that films like Zameer and Blackmail take you two steps behind in career?

Zameer is a sensible film. It is not a mistake but I concede it is an old commitment on my part. Blackmail took three years in the making. Times have changed. It is sad that you do not have takers for films like Zameer nowadays. You can speak to your producers when you sense something going wrong but you cannot plan. You give in when a producer has to pay Rs7 million (Dh5 ,93,220) as interest alone every month. The trouble with Blackmail is that it wasn’t projected in the right way. Whoever saw the film did not write it off.

What about your next release, Tango Charlie directed by Mani Shankar?

Tango Charlie is a very interesting film but let me tell you that it is not about war. It is about the personal lives of soldiers and deals with the innovative subject of how they are fighting with their own people. The film is all about their fight within the country and the trauma they go through.

Is it true that you and Rajkumar Santoshi are collaborating to make a film on Prithviraj Chauhan even as Sunny Deol is all set to make a similar film with director Chandraprakash Dwivedi?

Rajji and I had planned the film almost three years ago. We have invested money in the project. If Sunny is going to make it, we will not make the project and I’m sure the reverse is also true — they will not go ahead if we make it.

You do not seem to fancy doing stage shows or dancing at weddings, like some other stars these days?

It is just that stage shows and I do not go together. I wouldn’t call it stage fright. But I hate jumping on the stage for extra bucks. I also do not like the idea of dancing at weddings. A hundred years ago, there was a section of people meant for that. The scenario has not changed at all. Some actors still believe that they are a part of the dance troupe and so do it. However, I do not subscribe to that view.

Which are your forthcoming films?

Tango Charlie, Main Aisa Hi Hoon, Kaal etc besides Apaharan. I am also trying my hand at comedy in a film but I’d rather let the producer announce the film. I am also slated to do a film for Rajkumar Santoshi in which Nana Patekar and Aishwarya Rai will be my co-stars.

Did the failure of Raincoat affect you?

Raincoat was a small film made on a small budget of just Rs30 million rupees (about Dh2.5 million) and hence recovering the money was not a major issue. I wanted to work with Rituparno Ghosh and hence I didn’t charge him my market price. I am glad I was part of a project like Raincoat with Aishwarya.

What has your experience been as a distributor?

You wouldn’t believe it but the fact is that I have not lost any money in distributing films. Tha