Mahesh Bhatt on Rahul, DT&Rakhi-Article

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt introduced Rahul Roy and Deepak Tijori to Bollywood with Aashiqui in 1990. So we cornered him into giving us some dope about the friends-turned-rivals on Sony's reality show, Bigg Boss.

Do you watch Big Boss?
Yes, in bits and pieces. It's an unusual show. It's different from the soaps as the body language is different. It's a relief to see people behaving normally.

Has you observed any difference in Rahul and Deepak's personality today?
No, I didn't seem to notice any difference in them since Aashiqui till now. Back then too, Rahul always had this mask of control and was undependable while Deepak was very warm and affectionate. Rahul always pretended to be in control even when he was not.

Is Rahul as manipulative as he appears in Bigg Boss?
I don't think so. If he was manipulative, his career would have been handled better. Maybe he's learnt a couple of lessons in Bigg Boss. But there was a continuous insecurity in his mind and heart — whether he would live to make another film after Aashiqui. He couldn't take the stress and sometimes just gave up. During Aashiqui's release, he just collapsed at home till Deepak and I pulled him out. It was to difficult for him to face judgment, but ultimately all his fears vanished when Aashiqui became a hit.

How did you choose Deepak and Rahul for Aashiqui?
Paresh Rawal sent Deepak to me, asking if I could give him a chance. Rahul's mother, a UNICEF executive, met me and gave pictures of him saying he wanted to act. I liked the pictures so I cast him.

How were they on the sets?
They appeared to be best friends, but I was never convinced. They were buddies but there was always rivalry between them. Rahul knew that I looked upon Deepak as the better actor, while Deepak knew Rahul was the star of the film and he was just a sidekick. In spite of the friendship, there was also a constant animosity. In Bollywood, there are no friends, only companions.

Who was more insecure out of the two?
Rahul. He had a problem with the lead actress, Anu Agarwal. He thought she would get a better deal since he assumed Anu and I were having a relationship. But it was a ghost in his mind. Rahul never told me but it was apparent in his stiff behaviour. He had insecurity painted all over his face. But when the film released he got accolades for it.

Did they complain about each other?
They dared not, as right in the beginning I had made it clear I wouldn't allow any bitching behind people's backs. If they bitched, I would tell!

Who do you like more?
Deepak is a darling. He has tremendous control over his emotions, has seen highs and lows and doesn't bitch or pass judgments. Deepak is shy but a warm, easy-going guy. Rahul has a veneer of control and conceals much more than he really is. It's easy to talk to Deepak as he's truthful. I don't have favourites but if I was taking a flight to nowhere and given a choice of companion, I would take Deepak.