‘I am loving this phase of my career’

Doing just intense roles can get quite boring, believes Ajay Devgn who is happy to have worn a different hat in the out and out comedy "All The Best" even as he is on home ground in "London Dreams".

"It's a great feeling that at this stage of my career I am being seen in movies as diverse as 'London Dreams' and 'All The Best'. At one point of time, I was doing only intense roles," Ajay, 40, who won a National Award for "Zakhm" (1998), told IANS.

"But, believe me, if I had continued doing that till date with every film, I would have been really bored and fed up by now."

Ajay has been seen in quite a few films that required him to showcase his intense side, among them "Halla Bol", "Omkara", "Apaharan", "Gangaajal", "Deewangee", "Company" and "Takshak".

His "London Dreams" co-star Asin has said it is Ajay's "intensity quotient" that strikes one most as an actor. She also said when it comes to dramatic scenes, he just "eats up the screen".

But Ajay says humbly, "I don't really know if I eat up the screen or do anything like that in my dramatic scenes. Yes, intensity has been my forte and I take her views as a compliment. But, as I said, I am loving this phase of my career where I am able to work on diverse films."

In the pipeline are films like "Rajneeti", "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai", Priyadarshan's next film, "Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge", "Toonpur Ka Superhero" and a sequel to "Golmaal" or "All The Best". Clearly, the man is enjoying his status as an actor who can work in diverse genres.

One can also not deny the contribution of Rohit Shetty to Ajay's career. A friend and pretty much a resident director, Rohit has now delivered three successful comedy films with the actor - "All The Best", "Golmaal Returns" and "Golmaal".

"Yes, as far as comedy is concerned, Rohit has definitely given a new dimension to my career," agrees Ajay.

"I am very comfortable with him and he is someone I really trust. I am looking forward to what he comes up with next in the 'All The Best' and 'Golmaal' sequels. We have managed to get a good team working here."

Regarding his own directorial stint though, he hasn't quite finalised a film yet.

"I am still working on my next film," says Ajay. "People do ask me a question: since I started with an action film ('Phool Aur Kaante'), would I be directing an action film next? Well, I am yet to look into it and will be making an announcement at a later stage."

Indo-Asian News Service