'I am still struggling'

Even though Ritesh Deshmukh isn't exactly your everyday macho man, few can deny he's a pleasure to watch on screen. He's smart, he's funny and he has the comic timing that most just strive for. His lineage is impressive too - his dad is the chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

But Ritesh is a down-to-earth guy, struggling in the film industry like most others. He's hard at work trying to carve his own niche here. And going by his performance in his last few films, particularly the just-released "De Talli", we'd say he's almost there.

A conversation over coffee with Ritesh about life, real and reel:

You've become something of a comedy prince. Will we see you do any serious roles?

I'm not sure. I enjoy doing comedy and when my films do well then I am offered only those kinds of roles. But the films have been good and I just couldn't refuse them. "Heyy Babyy", "Dhamaal", "Masti", all these films gave me great roles.

I did "Cash", which was an action film, but it didn't really work. If the film had worked, I would have been offered those kinds of roles. So I will do what I am best at and what the audiences like me doing.

I am trying to experiment with different genres. Like there is this film I am doing where I have a romantic role. It's being directed by Milap Jhaveri and produced by Nikhil Advani. There's the fantasy flick "Aladdin" too. So I experiment whenever I am given a chance to.

In "Heyy Babyy" you shared screen space with Shah Rukh Khan in a song. How did it feel to perform alongside such a big star?

In one word - awesome. Especially because I used to be a movie buff when I was a kid. I've been his great fan since college days. I've seen most of his hit films - "Baazigar", "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge", "Dil Toh Pagal Hai"...

But "Heyy Babyy" wasn't the first time we shared screen space. That item song ["Deewangi"] in "Om Shanti Om" happened before that. I got to perform with veterans like Dharmendra, Jeetendra and Mithun.

When I was in school I used to bring home three-four video cassettes and watch them at least 10-15 times. So you can imagine how excited I was when I got to perform with these people.

Tell us more about your childhood...

Well, I came to Mumbai in 1982 when I was five years old. Before my father became a minister, we were in the Latur village in Maharashtra and I can easily say the best days of my life were spent there.

I have two brothers and all three of us would go there during vacations. We used to do all kinds of crazy things - ride a tractor, plough the field and even milk cows. Yes, I have done that too (laughs). Cricket was of course our favourite pastime. And then there were these stray dogs we would just bring home with us.

Life was simple back then. And we enjoyed it to the hilt.

Most people think you had it easy because you are a noted politician's son. Did you?

I would say I am still struggling. The way I look at life, it is entirely a function of your choices. What you have to do is make the right ones. You have to keep in mind the realities and your goals.

I do agree that luck plays an important role in shaping your life but your choices also determine your success.

I admit I have been lucky. I did some small budget films that turned out to be hits. But that doesn't mean I have had it easy. I have struggled like any newcomer. I also did multi-starrers and am still doing them. I know that the end result is not in my hands. But you continue trying and hope for the best.

How do you think you have changed over the years?

I have changed a lot. I think I have more confidence now and I am more extroverted now. Once upon a time I was this shy guy who couldn't even say hi to a girl easily. In fact, in school I wouldn't even talk to girls. Till college I was painfully shy but then slowly I learnt to open up. I dropped a lot of habits that weren't allowing me to grow.

You do change with time for the better or for worse. I would say life is a learning process.

You wouldn't believe when I tell you I had never dreamt I would become an actor. I wanted to be an architect and I am one. Then I was offered a film. I first went to my parents and asked them if I should do it and only after they said yes did I go ahead with it.

Now, my life is headed on a different path from the one I had decided upon but I don't regret it one bit.