A catch up with Bollywood Superstar Ajay Devgn on BOL BACHCHAN

After the action film Singham, you are teaming up again with director Rohit Shetty in the comedy Bol Bachchan 

Bol Bachchan is an entertaining movie. It is a Rohit Shetty film. The audience will get all the things they like to watch the most in Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty movies. Apart from the entertaining portion, the film also has drama and mind-blowing action.

Tell us more about your character in Bol Bachchan?

This is the first time that I have played a Pehelwan (wrestler). The role has been beautifully written, and since I had never played a Pehelwan before the entire team thought it would only enhance the film.It is good for an actor to keep playing different types of roles. Also, today’s audience doesn’t want to see an actor play the same role time and again. How long can you entertain the audience with the same type of character?

The basic idea is to entertain the audience. Now you have to decide how much entertainment you can deliver through your film. We, as a team, try to give 100 per cent entertainment. With Bol Bachchan, we will be providing 100-plus per cent entertainment.I can assure you my character will entertain the audience from the beginning to the end. Yes, kids love characters like these, but who says older people don’t? Don’t they watch wrestlers on WWE, whom you can also call ‘modern Pehelwans’? This film is for people of all ages.

Singham released in July 2011 and now you have Bol Bachchan in July 2012. Was the timing deliberate?

People say if you deliver a big hit in a particular week, one should follow that trend. It is something we have been following for years. It is not a superstitious thing but where’s the harm? We released Singham within a stipulated time frame. But Bol Bachchan is a bigger film made on a bigger canvas. It is not a film we could complete and release within a specific period. Luckily, we managed to finish the film recently and thus decided to release it in July. Singham is still fresh in audiences’ minds. And let me tell you, it is not just film experts who remember which film released when, it is audiences too.At the end of the day, the audience decides the fate of a film. If they were with you for your last film, they will be with you for your next film. If you give them what they want, they will stand by you. Bol Bachchan is one such film, made purely for the audience and their entertainment.

Will Bol Bachchan become your third film that crosses the Rs 100-crore mark?

We make a film to entertain the audience. And if we succeed, we are rewarded in return. Who doesn’t want his or her film to do well? But I’m not among those who are, like, ‘Iski 100 huyee, uski nahin’. I want my films to do better than my previous ones. I’m always competing with myself.

What kind of response has the song, the trailer and the look of the film drawn?

In these times, when there’s no long-term for a film, its first look and trailer play a very vital role. Today’s audience decides whether to watch a film or not from its look and trailer. So the fate of a film is decided the day you launch your trailer. We took our own time so that the first impression of the film is appreciated. The response has been overwhelming and much bigger than expected. We wanted to convey what we had made through the trailer. We also wanted to communicate that it is an entertaining film made on a much bigger and much more entertaining canvas this time.

Tell us about the title track and performing with Amitabh Bachchan – was this always part of the film?

People associated with the project always knew this song was part of the film. From the inception itself, we had decided to have this song on Amit-ji. It is just that we shot it after we completed the entire film. Obviously, the presence of Amit-ji, even in the song, enhances the prospects of the film. The title of the film is Bol Bachchan and it also has Abhishek Bachchan. So how can this film be complete if we don’t have Amit-ji?

Looking back… Rohit Shetty started his career with Zameen, which had Abhishek Bachchan and you in the lead?

Sometimes, things just fall into place and a project happens. This was not the first time Rohit thought of bringing us together. Before this, either the character didn’t suit Abhishek or there was another reason why we didn’t work together. But this time, with this title, we knew it had to be Abhishek. And everything worked just right. Since Abhishek and I have known each other for years, the chemistry on screen is outstanding. So many people have told me that we look good together on-screen. Real-life bonding helps on screen.

Will Bol Bachchan become your third film that crosses the Rs 100-crore mark in India?

We make a film to entertain the audience and if we succeed, we are rewarded in return. Who doesn’t want his or her film to do well? I want my films to do better than my previous ones. I’m always competing with myself.

After Bol Bachchan, you will only have Son Of Sardaar this year?

Yes. In the recent past, I have been having two to three releases a year. I believe this is the best way to go. Son Of Sardaar will release during Diwali and, after that, I will have my next release in 2013.

Do you think comedy and action in a film will make it a success at the box office?

Making a good film is a safe bet at the ticket counter. Action and comedy always entertain but just gags and punches on a villain’s face don’t make a film entertaining. You need to have a base, a good story. Yes, comedy and action enhance the fate of a film. See more on Bol Bachchan