Ajay Devgn: 'Men gossip more than women'

Ajay Devgn shows off his not-so-serious side. What's more he even gossips off record. Filmfare gets the lowdown


How has Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai taken your career a few notches higher?
I don't know how it will take me a few notches higher but I can say that it was a pretty exciting film to do. That is because it was something which reminded you of the '70s. We have all grown up on those films, you know the hard punch lines and the heroism, which is the most exciting. And wearing loose clothes. I've seen some photos of mine as a kid wearing those bell bottoms. So it was fun doing it. Also, we were performing a little like they did in the '70s. Some dialogue and situations belonged to that period. It was a lot of fun.


The success of Raajneeti buoyed you further and with Once Upon A Time In Mumbaii you're clearly on a roll. Do you think you've cracked the formula?
Before that there was All The Best. So it's four in a row. I don't know what the formula is though. I haven't cracked it. You struggle with every film and you don't realise where you're going wrong. When somebody asked me how could Ramu go so wrong with Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, the only answer I had was that I don't blame Ramu completely. We were with him as well. I mean, he always asked us, 'Are things looking good?' We'd say everything looked fine. So, it's as much our fault, you can't blame one person. When things go wrong, you never realise what exactly is going wrong. There's seriously no formula.


Are you a guy's guy or a ladies man?
I think both. I like spending time with friends and guys but I think every man is a ladies guy. Everybody likes attention from the opposite sex.


Do men gossip?
Oh, a lot! I think men gossip more than women. I gossip too but not more than women. I like to listen to gossip. I think we all do. Whoever denies it is lying. So we have fun while gossiping. But when I gossip, I don't care if the person I'm gossiping about gets to know. I mean I would say it on his face.


So, how much of a gossip are you on a scale of 1 to 10?
(Laughs) 6… Not bad haan?


Which are your top three performances?
(Laughs) Oh, there are more than three. If I turn around and look at my performances, which are more than two years old, I wouldn't want to watch them. I think I could have done it better than that. Yeah where satisfaction is concerned there are films like Zakhm and The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Deewangi, Khakee, Raincoat and many more.


Are there films that you enjoy doing but that went unnoticed?
Yes, there have been films like that. For instance, The Legend of Bhagat Singh was appreciated a lot but did not work because there were five films on Bhagat Singh releasing at the same time. Raju Chacha was another film. It came just before the multiplex revolution. Otherwise, I think it would have done well. If you had to make the same film today, you would have to spend 150 crores.


Name three actresses with whom your pairing has worked best.
I don't know about pairing but I get along with everybody. I'm most comfortable with Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) because I've known her for a long time.


How important is it to lie in an interview?
That's my problem. I really don't lie. I mean, everybody indulges in small lies. That's why my interviews are boring and you don't want to come to interview me again.


I can see a lot of grey hair. Anil Kapoor would never be caught dead like that…
That's how it is. Kids turn grey at the age of 25 today so it doesn't even really matter. I've had this since the past seven to eight years. I think it's cool. You should know how to carry it and be comfortable with yourself.


Faheem Ruhani

refreshing interview with very honest answers....nice read.

Aww Ajay! haha, now everytime I think of ajay and kareena together, I'll think of Kajol and Kareena's Date with Family episode where kareena defends her film choices by saing, your husband is also part of that film! lol!

I always like reading Ajay's interviews! They're so honest and fun to read! he's one actor who isn't fake at all!

I've had this since the past seven to eight years. I think it's cool.

I know it's so true, he has an amazing personality. He is a very underrated actor, I haven't seen The Legend of Bhagat Singh I have to watch it.😃

He has had 4 consequitive superhits in a row and he still sounds the same, even after so many critically acclaimed performances and hits in his kitty his approach sounds exactly the same. I guess he saves his producers a lot of money for publicity, coz I have never seen any of his movies being overpublicized, his name is enough to sell movies!