It’s role reversal for Dino Morea

When Dino Morea walked the ramp at a fashion show recently, it was, like his friend Pooja Bhatt very rightly put,  life coming a full circle for him. And Dino attests it too when he says, “Everything started here, I started as a model in Bangalore, then went away to Mumbai, became an actor and here I am, walking the ramp as a producer.”

“Being a producer,” Dino notes, “is hectic. It’s hard work but because it is my first film as one, I got down and dirty learning everything about this aspect of film making,” admits the actor-producer, his dimpled smile intact. But for a first time producer, he sure has selected a dramatic subject. You could have chosen a safe rom-com we quiz. Dino simply says, “Pooja is a dear friend and when I heard the story of Jism 2 I thought it was the right opportunity to start my production company with it. Besides that, I have always had a superb association with the Bhatts and with a team of such beautiful people around, I really didn’t have to think much about saying yes to producing it.”

Revealing that he has already watched the entire film and not just the rushes, Dino’s answer to the question about which is the best part of the movie is, “The entire movie! It’s got a great story but ultimately, the success depends on how the audience accepts it.”
Moving on, while he might not have succeeded as an actor, Dino has proved himself a capable entrepreneur with restaurant chain and a couple of pubs. “My brother and I run Crêpe Station, we’ve got the pub, The Elbow Room in Bandra and are set to open M1,” reveals Dino before adding, “I just like to explore all these different facets of myself because I guess I am ambitious by nature.” He, however, quickly jokes, “The restaurant business is completely looked after by my older brother (Nicolo Morea), I just go and show my face.”

Finally, we wonder how he felt walking on the ramp while the audience cheered him and he says, “I enjoyed it. The response was exciting and when the response is good, you feel good.”