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What makes Akshaye Khanna happy?
First, not being known as unprofessional. Second, read on
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Akshaye Khanna is in a great mood.
His cell phone does not stop ringing, as kudos keep pouring about his performance in his latest film Deewangee. The film was directed by Anees Bazmee and also stars Ajay Devgan and Urmila Matondkar.
And why not. Akshaye has the knack of coming up with one powerhose performance after another, as the sensitive artist in Dil Chahta Hai, the smooth-talking bad guy in Humraaz, and the upright lawyer in Deewangee, to name just a few.
For now, the actor is just back from Chennai after completeing a ten-day schedule of Priyadarshan's new comedy starring him and Aftab Shivdasani.
Maybe it is the after-effects of shooting for a comedy. Maybe it is just my lucky day to catch him in an expansive mood. I'm not complaining, says Rohini Iyer:
You are working with Priyadarshan after a long time.
Yeah. I have been wanting to work with Priyan again after Doli Saja Ke Rakhna. Though the film didn't do well, I have great regard for Priyan as a director. This film I'm doing is an out-and-out comedy. I have always wanted to do comedy.
When Priyan offered it to me, I simply had to say yes.
Are you happy with the reactions you got for Deewangee?
Yes. People are happy with my work. Overall, people have liked the film as well. So you see, it's good.
Are you happy with the way your career is going?
I am very happy. I have never been happier. I am extremely happy with the kind of work I'm getting and the kind of people I'm working with.
You are sticking to the tried and tested set of filmmakers. Why aren't you working with younger and newer directors?
Wasn't Farhan Akhtar young? Wasn't Farhan new? Where are the other new directors? Name them.
I am open to working with new directors as long as the script excites me. I'm open to working with anybody and everybody as long as I have faith in them and they have faith in me. As long as they give me a good script and a good role, I'm not averse to working with anybody. New or ancient.
People now no longer talk about the Akshaye with an attitude problem. You seem to be a lot more comfortable with the people around you.
Valid observation. I think I'm in a better position to deal with people. I find I deal with people better than I used to three, or maybe four, years ago. I understand and relate to people better now.
What went wrong earlier?
I guess I was just not sure of myself. I was very new to the ways of the world. In this instance, the film world. I think it was a bit of immaturity, a bit of youth. At that age, you are unsure of people, unsure of the environment around you.
But what's the point in delving into the past? It's a futile exercise.
I'd rather talk about my work instead. Today, I'm very clear about one thing.
What is that?
I don't want to be known as an unprofessional actor. There was a time I was considered unprofessional, to a certain extent.
I was very uncomfortable about that. I was very uncomfortable with the fact that people were actually writing about it. I was very uncomfortable that there must have been some truth to it that people were actually writing about it.
It made me think. It affected me. I knew I had to change. I did.
Today I'm very clear I don't want to be known as an unprofessional actor.
What do you want to be known as?
As what I am today. I have kind of settled in. I guess I'm finding my groove. I can see things are getting better. Now on, they can only get better.
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