Audience watches in totality and critics in parts: Ajay

Ajay Devgn accuses film analysts of losing touch with the viewers with their highfalutin dissections

Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 3, 2013)

The jury is still out on the fate of Ajay Devgn's latest offering Satyagraha but the actor looks far from perturbed as he enters his Juhu office. A cigarette break is on top of his mind and after a quick smoke, Ajay sat down with Mirror for a candid conversation.

The Prakash Jha film detailing the fictionalised life of an Anna Hazare like figure opened to a split verdict from the critics but the actor says that he is rather indifferent to the opinion of that lot. His Himmatwala was savaged by the critics and the latest one was met by accusations of sticking to the Jha formula, a mix of contemporary politics, romance and intrigue.

The question about this observation is met with a smile before the actor denies allegations of Satyagraha being formulaic.
"Bilkul nahi (Not at all)...Me and Prakash collaborate once in some threefour years. His stories are different and engaging and he has learnt that very well," he says.

The actor accuses the critics and analysts of losing touch with the audience with their minute disection.

"You ask people within the industry, they will say things like the first half was good, the second half wasn't. The audience always watches the film in totality. Critics are trying to sound intelligent by saying first half, second half. Kyu beech mei samosa aa gaya?" said the actor.

Jha is one of Ajay's favourite collaborators, other names in the list being Sajid Khan and Rohit Shetty.

But did Himmatwala's failure affect his relationship with Sajid? "Sometimes things go right, sometimes they go wrong. You do 10 films, out of that one doesn't work so you move ahead and learn from your mistakes. Yes, Sajid and I did have a chat about Himmatwala to figure what went wrong, and we have our own take on it, but it stays between us," explained Ajay.

And what about the rumours about cracks in his camaraderie with Rohit, thanks to his super hit collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, Chennai Express? "When Rohit started Chennai Express, I was the first one to know and told him to go ahead and make it. I am making Singham 2 with him and he is like family to me. And, honestly, Rohit and I don't even bother about all this gossip," said the actor.

But there is one collaborator Ajay Devgn can always count on: wife Kajol. When asked about rumours of her making a comeback in his next home production, Ajay said, "Yes, it is true. We have planned something very nice."