DNA EXCLUSIVE! ‘50 is the new 40’: Ajay Devgn

Ajay Devgn is in an envious position in his career. Despite his 27 years and 100+ film run; the 50-year-old Bollywood superstar continues to be a top dog. Having scored a hat-trick with Golmaal Again (2017), Raid (2018) and Total Dhamaal (2019), the gladiator, once famous for his intense roles, speaks of how he has been able to change gears (comic to serious) without a glitch. As he readies for his next romcom De De Pyaar De, in which he romances a girl two decades younger than him, the actor speaks of how age hasn’t slowed him down.

Over to Ajay:

Welcome, you are playing 50 on screen?

Yeah, I turned 50 in April and everyone knows this fact. So, even if I were to hide it, it wouldn’t work. The audience knows my real age.

Besides, earlier a Hindi film hero was invariably shown as a college-going guy. Now, it is no longer the case. In fact, the meatier roles are written for people who are of a certain age. Thanks to this fact, a majority of us — ie the Khans (Salman, Aamir, Shah Rukh and Saif) and Akshay (Kumar) — don’t feel the need to hide how old we are. We’re at a time when the audience is fully aware of what our real ages are. So, who do we fool, if we pretend otherwise?

Even then, other heroes feel it is cool that you are playing 50 in De De Pyaar De.

There you go again. I just told you it is the requirement of the script. Ours is a love story of an older man (me) falling in love with a younger girl (Rakul Preet Singh), after he has divorced his first wife (Tabu) in this case.

So, then it’s a cool thing?

Yes, it is a very cool thing to be 50 whether in cinema or in life. In fact, I feel uncomfortable playing 30 or 35 years of age on screen now. That’s a real effort.

Coming back to the age factor, nowadays most people, related to film or other spheres, are so health- conscious. Age is not an impediment at all. I can proclaim 50 is the new 40 or perhaps push a bit and say the new 30. You know of so many marathoners who are 50! Take me for example, I am so conscious of my food intake and exercise routine that I can still do what I did when I was younger.  I would be lying if I said that sometimes the muscles and joints don’t get sore. They need a little pampering from time to time. But as far as exercise goes, I’m up for the toughest routine. I genuinely believe that if you look after yourself well, which is the prime duty of each one of us, then age can sit fantastically well on a person.

Rakul Preet Singh, Ajay Devgn and Tabu in a still from De De Pyaar De

The response to the trailer was nice. The humour and situations were relatable.

Believe me, the main twist of the film, which is very novel and interesting, is not even there in the trailer. This movie is much more than what you see in the promo. It is much more relatable. The humour is good, the situations work well and there is an inherent emotion in place that should work with women. Tabu’s character is strong in the film. The way she explains things on screen, too, is beautiful.

Tabu and you are a tried-and-tested pair…

Thank you. We’ve had a good success ratio from the start of our careers. Even recently, we have managed to pull off superhits like Drishyam (2015) and Golmaal Again. She’s an incredible actor and brings something new to the table every single time. That’s her power.

There is a good chemistry between Rakul and you too.

(Cuts in) I don’t know about the chemistry.  But the script demanded a 50-year-old man and a 27-year-old girl, which is exactly what we tried to bring. When the characterisation is done correctly, people say the ‘chemistry is working’.

Any observations on Rakul?

It’s our first film together. There are some performance-heavy scenes and she has done those really well. The three main characters (Tabu, Rakul and I) have strong personalities. Therefore, each one had to have their own individual strength as artistes.

Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh in De De Pyaar De

Salman, Akshay and you are also not showing any signs of slowing down. You are fighting for your space alongside the younger generation.

Why are you saying we are fighting? There is no fight here. There are so many films being made that there is something suitable for each actor. I am glad that while younger actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Tiger Shroff, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal and Rajkummar Rao and so many others are doing notable work, guys like Salman, Akshay, Aamir, Shah Rukh and I are also able to get roles that are best suited to us. Isn’t it how it’s meant to be? 

Yes, you guys are fortunate to have witnessed so many changes.

There you go, this is what I am trying to say. We guys started in the late ’80s, early ’90s. At that time, technology was not so advanced. We had no monitors, no vanity vans and sometimes, when we were shooting outdoors, we didn’t have enough chairs on set either. The boys were still okay, but the girls had it tough. They had to change behind bushes and trees. So, there were limitations to our films. Most scripts were also catering to the mainstream ‘masala’ stuff. We did all of that and here we are today enjoying the fruit of evolution in cinema. Look at the films that are being made. Some amazing stuff is happening. Randomly one can talk of recent examples like Andhadhun (2018), Stree (2018), Gully Boy (2019) and so much else. At the same time, there is also a Padmaavat (2018) or a Golmaal Again. The audience is ready to patronise a Badhaai Ho (2018) and an Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019). 

There is so much variety to pick and choose from. VFX and SFX have improved so much. Screenwriters like Salim-Javed were always big stars, but today you have many more accomplished writers. Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku), Ritesh Shah (Raid), Luv Ranjan (De De Pyaar De) and a whole new bunch is out there giving us fantastic scripts. They’re bringing so much novelty to cinema.  In this scenario, I feel blessed to be an actor. 

Earlier, when an actor reached 35, he didn’t know what to do with himself. He was too old to run around trees and too young to play father or elder brother. Now, these stereotypes are fast disappearing. Lines are being cleverly merged.

Your next is with Amit Sharma of Badhaai Ho fame? It’s a sports biopic based on the Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim... 

Yes, I can’t tell you what a fabulous script he has come up with for my next. He is also a very good technician and I’m waiting to start work with him next month.

Would you be done with Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior by then?

Yes, mostly. Tanhaji is a film that has such a huge canvas, it is difficult to say I can just wrap it up. It needs minute attention and detailing. I’m hoping to finish the major portions soon.

How was it reuniting with Saif Ali Khan post Omkaara?

Saif is a fabulous artiste and a chilled-out fellow actor. Having him on set is always a pleasure.

Are you more careful about your script selection process now?

Yes, of course. Earlier, we did mainstream films without a thought and many of them worked. Now, we know if we don’t think a movie through, the audience will boo us. We are not conscious because there is a younger generation around, but we are more conscious because the audience has evolved. Today, I can do a Raid followed by a Total Dhamaal and a De De Pyaar De where a 50-year-old man falls in love with a 27-year-old woman. Earlier, the chances of so much variety being accepted was much less. Filmmakers stayed with set ideas.

You’re also doing four films a year now?

Where am I doing that? I would like to do four films a year. But I am just about succeeding in doing three.  For six months, I have been shooting for Tanhaji.

Isn’t that too much work?

Not at all. I have been working for close to 27 years now. And, if I don’t shoot for a couple of days, I feel terrible. Even when I am on vacation, I can relax at a stretch for about three to four days. Then I tend to get restless. Honestly, being on set is something every actor likes. It gives you a sense of being rooted.