Posted:
By Indu Mirani
Posted On Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 02:45:31 AM
• Are you and Priyanka Chopra a couple?
I have not spoken about my private life for the last two years and will continue not to do so. All I am going to say is that I am not going to make an effort to hide a relationship. When there is something substantial, people will know about it. There's very little as an actor that you can keep to yourself, and this is an area which I would like to keep to myself. At the same time I would not like to be a hypocrite and hide it. But, when something substantial happens in my life, only then will I talk.
• Define substantial.
Difficult to define because we're talking about a relationship. But when I feel that there is something that I am sure of I will speak about it. It doesn't mean there's something between me and Priyanka that I am not sure of.
• So then, of course, there's no point in talking about the fact that you have been squabbling with Priyanka and that there are problems in your relationship…
(Laughs) I think people need to have these CCTV cameras in my house or in Priyanka's house to know and record the hypothetical fights that we've been having. Sometimes it's irritating, but yes, most of the times it's funny. As an actor you learn to have a sense of humour about these things.
• So do you laugh equally when we talk about, Sania Mirza or Vidya Balan?
Laugh equally in what context?
• In the sense that you can just laugh it off.
I've known both these girls. We've been good friends. Sometime we're in touch, sometimes we're out of touch. They're both very very busy and wonderful people and I'm really fond of both of them and that's all that there is to it. I mean, just because I'm single, every person I meet doesn't have to be the one I'm in a relationship with. Having said that, I also understand that I had a very public break-up. Kareena and Saif are seeing each other so that's something that people are familiar with right now. And since there is no substantial person in my life, anybody I meet kind of gets linked with me. From what happened in the past I've learnt and so choose to keep my private life as private as possible.
• Evidently you've matured a lot since your last relationship.
In the last two, two-and-a-half years I think I've become a man. Yes. I think in my head I was very much a boy. By that I don't mean that I've become mature and suddenly there's no fun in life anymore. When you become a star there are so many things that can happen and you need to take responsibility for them and you need to be a little more aware about everything and everybody around you. I've learnt how to be intelligently spontaneous. I think being only spontaneous doesn't help, you have to be intelligently spontaneous.
• How do you react to Kareena saying that she has moved on and you should do so too?
As you see, I don't react. That's what I choose to do. That's what I have been taught to do by my parents. That's what I think is the right thing to do. I can only take responsibility for what I say. And I know what I do. And I know what has happened. And nothing can change the truth, so I don't feel the need to clarify it because I don't feel the need to justify it because I know I'm right in whatever I'm doing.
• Maybe Kareena was just being a concerned friend…
I really wouldn't like to jump to conclusions as to why she said what she said, honestly because I am me and she is she. She can choose to react the way she does to things and she is responsible for those reactions. And I choose to react the way I do, and I am responsible for my actions. I'm happy with where I am in my life and I'm trying to be positive and constructive about it and that's all that I'm focusing on right now.
• Saif says that Kaminay came to him first and that you are using his name now to get mileage for Kaminay. This is in the professional space. How do you react to this?
Well, first of all, Saif is many years senior to me, so as a professional, I wouldn't really want to get into any kind of a… to-and-fro kind of a situation in print. I think Vishal Bharadwaj is a great director, the role I am doing in Kaminay is a role to die for. It's just that it's really hard to believe that anybody would turn that down. I feel fortunate that I'm doing it, regardless of whether it was offered to anybody else or not.
• Are you ghost directing the Ken Ghosh film?
(Laughs) All I can say is this is my third film with Ken - he's the only director I have done three films with - I think that speaks for itself.
• Did you have anything to do with Genelia D'Souza replacing Jiah Khan?
The change in the heroine was something that was informed to me, I wasn't aware of it. I think that was a decision taken by UTV and Ken and they told me about it.
• One hears that you were not happy with the climax of the Rani Mukerji film (Haddipa) and you actually stopped shooting for a few hours.
I wished that I'd known about this earlier, I'd lock myself up in the van after every two scenes and get my way! (laughs) Yash Raj is a very professional set-up and we have detailed narrations on the script before we go on sets. Most films I'm doing work like that now. So no, nothing of that sort has happened.
• Do you have a three-film contract with YRF?
No, I don't have any three-film contract. It's just that this (Parmeet Sethi's film) is the second film they offered to me, I liked it, and that's why I'm doing it.
• People say that you're a control freak and that's why your help and others leave you all the time…
As an actor you can't be in control of everything. And if I wanted to be in control, I would not be an actor, I would choose to be a producer or a director who's actually the captain of the ship. I've chosen to be an actor because I love acting. Yes, I'm very involved in what I do, I love what I do, I'm crazy about it, I'm obsessed with it, and I'm passionately in love with the process of filmmaking. But there's a head of department of every part of filmmaking and they eventually take the final call and we always work as a team. And my most successful films have been those where everybody worked together as a team. I don't think I'm a control freak. But I'm very passionate about my work and I need to be convinced about what I'm doing. And that's something that most people who consider themselves involved would be.
• Why do so many people leave you? And I'm not talking about girlfriends here.
First of all I don't agree that 'people leave me'. There are times that things haven't worked out, sometimes I have chosen to part ways, sometimes others choose to. And there aren't too many people who've left me. There are just a couple. One of them happens to be my manager. It's about professional space so I don't think I need to justify that. Apart from that, my PR person left because there was a difference in the way we looked at things.
But yes, maybe because it's happened in a short span of time it's seen in a certain way. I know people have been talking, but I don't think I need to talk about it.
• It is a completely different space that you're occupying with Kaminay. Why now?
I'm somebody who'll always end up going towards anything that's different. That's the creative person in me. It excites me. First, honestly, it scares me. Then I tell myself, if you don't do this just because you're scared, then you're such a loser. Risks have always worked for me. Be it Vivah, or Jab We Met, or anything that I've done with these people when others were suggesting that I should be working with big banners. About Kaminay, well, a double role is something that you probably do just once, or maximum maybe twice in your whole career. And it's such a fresh perspective to a double role, you'd be a fool to say no to it.
• Rumours say that Vishal Bhardwaj and you were fighting like cats and dogs.
(Laughs) No yaar! I don't think it's possible to fight with Vishal. He's just too calm and composed for all this. We've never fought. He's too many years senior to me. In fact, this was one of the most chilled-out film as far as director-actor relationship is concerned. Vishal is so clear about what he wants that it just makes life easier for the actor.
• What does a woman have to do to woo you, and to get you in that substantial space.
I wish I knew! Then I'd just make this list and give it out! But well, I think it's very basic for me, I don't have too many pre-conceived notions. Be real, be honest, be sensitive, have a sense of humour and have a sense of loyalty. I think if you have these four or five basics in place, you can make any relationship work. When those basics are strong, then the relationship is strong. That's how I look at relationships. Both people have to want it as much, and when the basics are strong, you can ride any storm. Both people have to want to make the relationship work as much.
• Now that we can put the list out, what will you bring to the table?
I'm ready to give anything to a relationship. As long as I'm not expected to change beyond what my basic nature is. Every relationship needs adjustment and understanding and you have to be ready to do that. But as long as you don't end up changing yourself as the basic person you were, because then you'll be unhappy. Apart form that, anything it takes! I'm always someone who's looking for longevity. I think you must never get into a relationship expecting it to culminate, only, you should know that there is a possibility of culmination.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/20090521200905210245314866c706133/Im-not-a-control-freak.html
• Are you and Priyanka Chopra a couple?
I have not spoken about my private life for the last two years and will continue not to do so. All I am going to say is that I am not going to make an effort to hide a relationship. When there is something substantial, people will know about it. There's very little as an actor that you can keep to yourself, and this is an area which I would like to keep to myself. At the same time I would not like to be a hypocrite and hide it. But, when something substantial happens in my life, only then will I talk.
• Define substantial.
Difficult to define because we're talking about a relationship. But when I feel that there is something that I am sure of I will speak about it. It doesn't mean there's something between me and Priyanka that I am not sure of.
• So then, of course, there's no point in talking about the fact that you have been squabbling with Priyanka and that there are problems in your relationship…
(Laughs) I think people need to have these CCTV cameras in my house or in Priyanka's house to know and record the hypothetical fights that we've been having. Sometimes it's irritating, but yes, most of the times it's funny. As an actor you learn to have a sense of humour about these things.
• So do you laugh equally when we talk about, Sania Mirza or Vidya Balan?
Laugh equally in what context?
• In the sense that you can just laugh it off.
I've known both these girls. We've been good friends. Sometime we're in touch, sometimes we're out of touch. They're both very very busy and wonderful people and I'm really fond of both of them and that's all that there is to it. I mean, just because I'm single, every person I meet doesn't have to be the one I'm in a relationship with. Having said that, I also understand that I had a very public break-up. Kareena and Saif are seeing each other so that's something that people are familiar with right now. And since there is no substantial person in my life, anybody I meet kind of gets linked with me. From what happened in the past I've learnt and so choose to keep my private life as private as possible.
• Evidently you've matured a lot since your last relationship.
In the last two, two-and-a-half years I think I've become a man. Yes. I think in my head I was very much a boy. By that I don't mean that I've become mature and suddenly there's no fun in life anymore. When you become a star there are so many things that can happen and you need to take responsibility for them and you need to be a little more aware about everything and everybody around you. I've learnt how to be intelligently spontaneous. I think being only spontaneous doesn't help, you have to be intelligently spontaneous.
• How do you react to Kareena saying that she has moved on and you should do so too?
As you see, I don't react. That's what I choose to do. That's what I have been taught to do by my parents. That's what I think is the right thing to do. I can only take responsibility for what I say. And I know what I do. And I know what has happened. And nothing can change the truth, so I don't feel the need to clarify it because I don't feel the need to justify it because I know I'm right in whatever I'm doing.
• Maybe Kareena was just being a concerned friend…
I really wouldn't like to jump to conclusions as to why she said what she said, honestly because I am me and she is she. She can choose to react the way she does to things and she is responsible for those reactions. And I choose to react the way I do, and I am responsible for my actions. I'm happy with where I am in my life and I'm trying to be positive and constructive about it and that's all that I'm focusing on right now.
• Saif says that Kaminay came to him first and that you are using his name now to get mileage for Kaminay. This is in the professional space. How do you react to this?
Well, first of all, Saif is many years senior to me, so as a professional, I wouldn't really want to get into any kind of a… to-and-fro kind of a situation in print. I think Vishal Bharadwaj is a great director, the role I am doing in Kaminay is a role to die for. It's just that it's really hard to believe that anybody would turn that down. I feel fortunate that I'm doing it, regardless of whether it was offered to anybody else or not.
• Are you ghost directing the Ken Ghosh film?
(Laughs) All I can say is this is my third film with Ken - he's the only director I have done three films with - I think that speaks for itself.
• Did you have anything to do with Genelia D'Souza replacing Jiah Khan?
The change in the heroine was something that was informed to me, I wasn't aware of it. I think that was a decision taken by UTV and Ken and they told me about it.
• One hears that you were not happy with the climax of the Rani Mukerji film (Haddipa) and you actually stopped shooting for a few hours.
I wished that I'd known about this earlier, I'd lock myself up in the van after every two scenes and get my way! (laughs) Yash Raj is a very professional set-up and we have detailed narrations on the script before we go on sets. Most films I'm doing work like that now. So no, nothing of that sort has happened.
• Do you have a three-film contract with YRF?
No, I don't have any three-film contract. It's just that this (Parmeet Sethi's film) is the second film they offered to me, I liked it, and that's why I'm doing it.
• People say that you're a control freak and that's why your help and others leave you all the time…
As an actor you can't be in control of everything. And if I wanted to be in control, I would not be an actor, I would choose to be a producer or a director who's actually the captain of the ship. I've chosen to be an actor because I love acting. Yes, I'm very involved in what I do, I love what I do, I'm crazy about it, I'm obsessed with it, and I'm passionately in love with the process of filmmaking. But there's a head of department of every part of filmmaking and they eventually take the final call and we always work as a team. And my most successful films have been those where everybody worked together as a team. I don't think I'm a control freak. But I'm very passionate about my work and I need to be convinced about what I'm doing. And that's something that most people who consider themselves involved would be.
• Why do so many people leave you? And I'm not talking about girlfriends here.
First of all I don't agree that 'people leave me'. There are times that things haven't worked out, sometimes I have chosen to part ways, sometimes others choose to. And there aren't too many people who've left me. There are just a couple. One of them happens to be my manager. It's about professional space so I don't think I need to justify that. Apart from that, my PR person left because there was a difference in the way we looked at things.
But yes, maybe because it's happened in a short span of time it's seen in a certain way. I know people have been talking, but I don't think I need to talk about it.
• It is a completely different space that you're occupying with Kaminay. Why now?
I'm somebody who'll always end up going towards anything that's different. That's the creative person in me. It excites me. First, honestly, it scares me. Then I tell myself, if you don't do this just because you're scared, then you're such a loser. Risks have always worked for me. Be it Vivah, or Jab We Met, or anything that I've done with these people when others were suggesting that I should be working with big banners. About Kaminay, well, a double role is something that you probably do just once, or maximum maybe twice in your whole career. And it's such a fresh perspective to a double role, you'd be a fool to say no to it.
• Rumours say that Vishal Bhardwaj and you were fighting like cats and dogs.
(Laughs) No yaar! I don't think it's possible to fight with Vishal. He's just too calm and composed for all this. We've never fought. He's too many years senior to me. In fact, this was one of the most chilled-out film as far as director-actor relationship is concerned. Vishal is so clear about what he wants that it just makes life easier for the actor.
• What does a woman have to do to woo you, and to get you in that substantial space.
I wish I knew! Then I'd just make this list and give it out! But well, I think it's very basic for me, I don't have too many pre-conceived notions. Be real, be honest, be sensitive, have a sense of humour and have a sense of loyalty. I think if you have these four or five basics in place, you can make any relationship work. When those basics are strong, then the relationship is strong. That's how I look at relationships. Both people have to want it as much, and when the basics are strong, you can ride any storm. Both people have to want to make the relationship work as much.
• Now that we can put the list out, what will you bring to the table?
I'm ready to give anything to a relationship. As long as I'm not expected to change beyond what my basic nature is. Every relationship needs adjustment and understanding and you have to be ready to do that. But as long as you don't end up changing yourself as the basic person you were, because then you'll be unhappy. Apart form that, anything it takes! I'm always someone who's looking for longevity. I think you must never get into a relationship expecting it to culminate, only, you should know that there is a possibility of culmination.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/20090521200905210245314866c706133/Im-not-a-control-freak.html
Anupamaa
Members Lounge
Seher Hone Ko Hai
3