Ajay's rather cool with Kajol's busy schedule

Ajay Devgn's a changed man. He is no longer the brooding, angry young action hero of the 90s. The actor has reinvented himself as a chilled out, easy going guy who is comfortable acting in, directing or even producing tearjerkers and comedies. For a man with a tough guy persona, he directed the sensitive U, Me, Aur Hum and produced the laugh riot All The Best. "When I thought of direction, I couldn't think beyond U, Me, Aur Hum. I knew that's the only project I could make at that time. As a director you need to believe in a project like that. As a producer though, you have to think of several factors like the viability of the project, the market situation and so on," he says.
Then he smiles and says, "But you know I am a sensitive person. I may not show it often and maybe you saw that through my movie."
Well, we sure would like to see it again. After turning director why has he taken so long to make another film?
"Just because I turned director doesn't mean I should make a film every six months or every year. I have to feel that I am in the place to direct a film because it's all consuming and I have to keep my acting assignments aside for a while. And most of all, you need to have that script in hand that you want to direct," he says.
He is more relaxed today and his body language shows he is emerging from his shell with the media and the masses. Ajay would never have attended awards functions a couple of years ago. "You are partly right. I have become more comfortable with talking about myself and letting people into my space," he says confidently. "Earlier I just didn't understand why people would be interested in my personal life and that would make me clamp up. I just couldn't make myself talk about things that only a few around me were supposed to know. But I am more relaxed as you say now, learning, I suppose. And things in the industry have changed so much, you have to make certain adjustments," he acknowledges. "I have realised that when they give an award to you, it's an appreciation for your work and they mean well. I used to be so reluctant to go to awards functions, but see, I am being more flexible now," he smiles.
Has he learnt patience and understood the need to adapt after becoming a father? "Actually not," he says. "I think that came naturally to me. When you love someone the way a parent loves his child, nothing seems like a compromise. I love spending time with Nysa and lifestyle changes are just a natural progression. Today after 6 pm, when the shoot is over I run home and spend all evening with Nysa. It's the biggest joy of my life.
This is one reason you see Ajay in fewer films lately as he has deliberately cut down his working hours. While wife Kajol appears headed in the opposite direction. She talked of doing one film a year when she came back to the movies. But this year she has two releases lined up after My Name Is Khan, which released earlier — I love You Maa and Toonpur Ka Superhero. How is Ajay coping with her extended stints away from home and him staying home to look after Nysa? "You know Kajol won't be without Nysa even for a day," he says proudly. "And even if she does, I am more than happy to stay at home and be with her. There have been film offers for Kajol non-stop since we got married. But she decided that she wanted to give some time to my family, she's so great with them, and then to our baby and her growing years. She decided to come back and act, a decision I completely support. So why would I complain now? Isn't that what marriages are about, standing by each other and supporting each other? Kajol and I have always had that understanding," he says.
So will we be seeing Kajol in all his directorial ventures? "Arrey, let me come up with a project first, then we'll talk," he says refusing to speculate. And that is a sign of a man happy to live in the moment.