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Uday Chopra: Something Must Be Missing In Me That I Can't Make It As An Actor
posted on : 30 Dec 2013
It's never easy to come to terms with failure, especially if you had huge expectations riding on your shoulders. But Uday Chopra is one of those few actors who has stood in the face of criticism like no other. You'd be surprised to see how candidly he talks about the lows in his career. And the one thing that shines through his words is that he has neither any bitterness nor any complaints against his detractors. Now, that sure is a rare quality for someone who belongs to a family that makes the best films in Bollywood. StarWeek catches up with the actor as he talks about Dhoom 3, why he decided to turn to production and much more.
You're back on the big screen after a while withDhoom 3. As expected, this is bigger and better than the first two installments of the franchise.
It had to be ya. I'm saying this because we've put in a lot of time and money. We got the backing of a really interesting talent like Aamir (Khan). It was a great thing for us when he agreed to do this film. So I always knew that if any movie could be bigger and better than Dhoom andDhoom 2, it is obviously Dhoom 3.
The audience thoroughly enjoys watching you play the hilarious Ali in the movie. They say it's extremely difficult to make the audiences laugh. Do you think that's true or does being funny come naturally to you?
When it comes to comedy, the actor is of course important. But before that, it's the writing. Comedy largely depends on the writing. If it's slapstick, it's different. But this is not. It has to be written well. I think 50 per cent of the work has to be done by the writer. The actor has to deliver it right with the correct timing.
Like you said, one of the biggest draws of the film is Aamir Khan and of course, you had the chance to work with Abhishek Bachchan once again in this flick. You boys must've had a fun time shooting, right?
Abhishek is my left hand yaar. We know each other so well. We've grown up together. We've done Dhoom, Dhoom 2 and now
Dhoom 3. There's a great level of comfort while working with him. I've known Aamir for a long time too. He did a film for my father called Parampara, for which I was an assistant director. I remember seeing a very different Aamir that time. He was a big prankster back then. This time, I saw a much more subdued version of Aamir. Though he is a lot of fun off set, on set he is very focussed. What's interesting about him is that he's just so normal. He doesn't have any hang-ups. I remember this one time they told us that it was just going to be me and Abhishek shooting some scenes while Aamir would be shooting later. When we came on set, Aamir was already there. He just sat on a chair silently reading a book. Even his assistant wasn't there. I was like, Aamir, tu kya kar raha hain yahaan pe? Tera toh shot abhi nahi hain.' So he was like, Arre yaar main tayaar ho gaya, toh maine socha set pe aa jaoon. Jab hoga kaam toh kar lenge.' I thought it was incredible of a superstar to behave like that.
In spite of coming from one of the most illustrious families in Bollywood, you've seen your share of lows in your career. Do you feel luck hasn't been on your side?
No, I don't believe in luck. I believe that you are a product of your own efforts, your talent, personality and time. The audience is the final judge. You cannot say, Oh no! I didn't get my dues and blah blah.' I think I've come to the realisation now because I know that the audience is everything for an actor. They should tell you what to do. You make films for them. If you don't have the stuff, they won't accept you. They told me in Neal N' Nikki, they told me in Pyaar Impossible. I just had to listen to what they were trying to convey to me. They were telling me about a very important lesson that I needed to learn in life. So that's when I decided to go into production in Hollywood. I don't believe in luck. Something must be missing in me that I can't make it as an actor. Maybe I've worked hard enough but it could also be that I don't have the personality for them to want to see me as an actor.
When you arrived, you wanted to be the number one actor. Have you given up on that ambition?
I've left that whole ray of search. Everyone wants to be number one. You can be an engineer or an architect but you would want to be at the top. You want to leave a legacy behind. Number one is just a benchmark. Today, I still want to be the best. I still have that quest but I just don't think it'll happen through acting. It'll probably happen through production. And you know what? You may not be the best but you can reach near about. So that should be good enough too.
It hasn't been too long since you lost your father, the late Yash Chopra. Has the loss sunk in?
Now, it's slowly sinking in. It has been a little over a year since he passed away. I think I was hit very badly. I showed it more than the other members of my family because I was very, very close to my father. I'm slowly coming to some acceptance of the fact that he's not there anymore. At the same time, I just think that if I want to believe he's there, I can believe it. Maybe it's superstition but it helps me to move on and carry on with life. I just somewhere believe that he's there watching over me. So that notion has helped me tremendously.
Your elder brother, Aditya Chopra is known to be reclusive by nature. Since he is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in Bollywood, doesn't he ever feel the need to enjoy his stardom by being in the limelight?
I think being away from the spotlight is just his personality. He doesn't have any ill will against the media. The media thinks like that because he isn't here to speak for himself. Sometimes, I just feel I should clear this doubt in people's heads. He doesn't like being a public person. He doesn't even go to parties. One of his closest friends, Karan (Johar) called him for his 40th birthday and Adi didn't go. But his friends don't get hurt because they know him now. If there are more than 10 people in one place, Adi won't come. So they have a small dinner for him with a few people only. He doesn't like too many people neither does he like being in the public glare.
Rumours are rife that he'll finally tie the knot next year with Rani Mukerji. Is that true?
No, there's nothing planned yet. I don't really want to talk about it. There's nothing happening. They are just rumours.
The media has also been talking about your personal life for a while now. Apparently, you've found love in Nargis Fakhri...
Again, I don't want to talk about that either (smiles). She's a dear friend of mine and I'll leave it at that.
You've always maintained that there's no particular age to marry. Do you ever feel the need to settle down?
I don't believe that you have to be married. It's individualistic. If it feels right and you think it's important to get married, then great. I think today there are easily other options. You can have a live-in relationship and not get married. I think that's more exciting. The moment you get married and you know she's yours and I'm saying this from a guy's point of view, you get complacent. You don't dress up anymore. You don't take care of yourself. The relationship just falls apart and that excitement is gone. I really fear that, which is why I say that it's not compulsory to get married.
Chandni Ghosh
You're back on the big screen after a while withDhoom 3. As expected, this is bigger and better than the first two installments of the franchise.
It had to be ya. I'm saying this because we've put in a lot of time and money. We got the backing of a really interesting talent like Aamir (Khan). It was a great thing for us when he agreed to do this film. So I always knew that if any movie could be bigger and better than Dhoom andDhoom 2, it is obviously Dhoom 3.
The audience thoroughly enjoys watching you play the hilarious Ali in the movie. They say it's extremely difficult to make the audiences laugh. Do you think that's true or does being funny come naturally to you?
When it comes to comedy, the actor is of course important. But before that, it's the writing. Comedy largely depends on the writing. If it's slapstick, it's different. But this is not. It has to be written well. I think 50 per cent of the work has to be done by the writer. The actor has to deliver it right with the correct timing.
Like you said, one of the biggest draws of the film is Aamir Khan and of course, you had the chance to work with Abhishek Bachchan once again in this flick. You boys must've had a fun time shooting, right?
Abhishek is my left hand yaar. We know each other so well. We've grown up together. We've done Dhoom, Dhoom 2 and now
Dhoom 3. There's a great level of comfort while working with him. I've known Aamir for a long time too. He did a film for my father called Parampara, for which I was an assistant director. I remember seeing a very different Aamir that time. He was a big prankster back then. This time, I saw a much more subdued version of Aamir. Though he is a lot of fun off set, on set he is very focussed. What's interesting about him is that he's just so normal. He doesn't have any hang-ups. I remember this one time they told us that it was just going to be me and Abhishek shooting some scenes while Aamir would be shooting later. When we came on set, Aamir was already there. He just sat on a chair silently reading a book. Even his assistant wasn't there. I was like, Aamir, tu kya kar raha hain yahaan pe? Tera toh shot abhi nahi hain.' So he was like, Arre yaar main tayaar ho gaya, toh maine socha set pe aa jaoon. Jab hoga kaam toh kar lenge.' I thought it was incredible of a superstar to behave like that.
In spite of coming from one of the most illustrious families in Bollywood, you've seen your share of lows in your career. Do you feel luck hasn't been on your side?
No, I don't believe in luck. I believe that you are a product of your own efforts, your talent, personality and time. The audience is the final judge. You cannot say, Oh no! I didn't get my dues and blah blah.' I think I've come to the realisation now because I know that the audience is everything for an actor. They should tell you what to do. You make films for them. If you don't have the stuff, they won't accept you. They told me in Neal N' Nikki, they told me in Pyaar Impossible. I just had to listen to what they were trying to convey to me. They were telling me about a very important lesson that I needed to learn in life. So that's when I decided to go into production in Hollywood. I don't believe in luck. Something must be missing in me that I can't make it as an actor. Maybe I've worked hard enough but it could also be that I don't have the personality for them to want to see me as an actor.
When you arrived, you wanted to be the number one actor. Have you given up on that ambition?
I've left that whole ray of search. Everyone wants to be number one. You can be an engineer or an architect but you would want to be at the top. You want to leave a legacy behind. Number one is just a benchmark. Today, I still want to be the best. I still have that quest but I just don't think it'll happen through acting. It'll probably happen through production. And you know what? You may not be the best but you can reach near about. So that should be good enough too.
It hasn't been too long since you lost your father, the late Yash Chopra. Has the loss sunk in?
Now, it's slowly sinking in. It has been a little over a year since he passed away. I think I was hit very badly. I showed it more than the other members of my family because I was very, very close to my father. I'm slowly coming to some acceptance of the fact that he's not there anymore. At the same time, I just think that if I want to believe he's there, I can believe it. Maybe it's superstition but it helps me to move on and carry on with life. I just somewhere believe that he's there watching over me. So that notion has helped me tremendously.
Your elder brother, Aditya Chopra is known to be reclusive by nature. Since he is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in Bollywood, doesn't he ever feel the need to enjoy his stardom by being in the limelight?
I think being away from the spotlight is just his personality. He doesn't have any ill will against the media. The media thinks like that because he isn't here to speak for himself. Sometimes, I just feel I should clear this doubt in people's heads. He doesn't like being a public person. He doesn't even go to parties. One of his closest friends, Karan (Johar) called him for his 40th birthday and Adi didn't go. But his friends don't get hurt because they know him now. If there are more than 10 people in one place, Adi won't come. So they have a small dinner for him with a few people only. He doesn't like too many people neither does he like being in the public glare.
Rumours are rife that he'll finally tie the knot next year with Rani Mukerji. Is that true?
No, there's nothing planned yet. I don't really want to talk about it. There's nothing happening. They are just rumours.
The media has also been talking about your personal life for a while now. Apparently, you've found love in Nargis Fakhri...
Again, I don't want to talk about that either (smiles). She's a dear friend of mine and I'll leave it at that.
You've always maintained that there's no particular age to marry. Do you ever feel the need to settle down?
I don't believe that you have to be married. It's individualistic. If it feels right and you think it's important to get married, then great. I think today there are easily other options. You can have a live-in relationship and not get married. I think that's more exciting. The moment you get married and you know she's yours and I'm saying this from a guy's point of view, you get complacent. You don't dress up anymore. You don't take care of yourself. The relationship just falls apart and that excitement is gone. I really fear that, which is why I say that it's not compulsory to get married.
Chandni Ghosh
Anupamaa
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