"It is difficult to maintain relationships in this business"

Suniel Shetty, who launched his own production company eight years ago, describes producing movies as difficult and stressful and says that "it is not my job".

In 2003, the 50-year-old launched his production company, Popcorn Motion Pictures Ltd, which produced films like 'Khel' (2003), 'Rakht' (2004), 'Bhagam Bhag' (2006) and the latest, 'Loot'.

"The transformation from being an actor to a producer has been difficult. A producer's job is very demanding. It is not my cup of tea, it is not my job, I know this for a fact," Suniel said.

"It is difficult to maintain relationships in this business. A lot of misunderstandings happen and also there is too much stress. I don't think I want to be connected with stress," he added.

The macho actor made his entry in Bollywood 1992 with 'Balwan'. A Black Belt in kickboxing, he did a string of action movies including 'Waqt Hamara Hai', 'Mohra', 'Suraksha', 'Shastra', 'Rakshak', 'Krishna', 'Aakrosh' and 'Dus'.

Apart from action and comedy, he worked in patriotic movies like 'Border' and 'LOC: Kargil'.

But his ultimate aim is that people should remember him as a good human being.

"Twenty years is a long time to have survived in this industry. And it is the most important thing for me. I worked with my heart and soul. There have been highs and lows but the day I retire or I get out or I am pushed out - I would want people to say that he was a good actor, but more than that he was a good human being," he said.

"That's why I also make a conscious effort that I don't hurt anybody," added Suniel.

He made a good on-screen team with action stars Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn in the 1990s, when actors had to take a lot of risk to make action scenes work.

But Suniel feels that working in action movies now is not as risky as it used to be.

"Now the action has been made sleeker, easier and better. Kids (young actors) don't have to break their bones like we had to. They don't have to jump from the fifth floor, they easily come down on cables or they just act as if they are jumping and the green screen does everything. We did things ourselves. We were men then, and they are boys now," he said.

Talking about the present state of the film industry, Suniel felt that masala movies were making a comeback.

"The movies that are being made now are quite similar to the ones we had during the early 1990s. The masala films, with action, fights, villain, hero and the beautiful heroines. It's a nostalgic feeling.

"Though we don't have the real 'villain character' any more, which were played by Amrish Puriji and the iconic Gabbar. Now the actors are trying to do everything in a film. But films like 'Dabangg' and 'Singham' have really played an important role in letting us relive our old days," said the actor whose next release will be 'Chai Garam'.

IANS