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Magazine
IN PASSING
Just another teen?
SUCHITRA BEHAL
H’s already a household name but Dev Patel refuses to think of himself as a big time actor. “I’m actually just a teenager, restless and goofy. Something like Hovis bread that you get in the UK; it’s white with all the goodnes
s of brown…..”
On a more serious note, Patel can’t help smiling at luck and where it seems to have taken him. “You know all these relatives used to ask my Mom, ‘what subjects is he taking in school?’ and she’d say, ‘acting’ and they were like …?? But now they are all so impressed.”
Patel said that what impressed him the most about the slums had been the level of interaction between the people there. “I mean they have a life that is far removed from what I had ever imagined. They are busy doing something and there is an element of fun, everyone seems to know everyone else.”
Patel said that he had been aware of Indian cinema and had also seen a few films. Of course the sterling performances in some of the more recent Hindi films proved how far Bollywood had come and how different it was now. “There are no stereotypes now,” said he.
For Patel though whether he might want to act in an Indian film made and shot in India is a matter that he hasn’t yet considered. “Let’s say it all depends…” grinned the lanky actor.
No fluke
For those who thought that “Rock On” was a flash in the pan for director-turned-actor, Farhan Akhtar, here’s something to chew on. In his new film, Akhtar has once again stolen a march over the others and proved that he is able to d
on both hats comfortably.
So when asked if he would now pander to the usual trappings of Bollywood, Akhtar, laughed, “No, I still have one cell phone. My biggest female fans are my daughters and, no, I do not intend to take my shirt off. That’s just not me. I am a simple fellow and grounded at that.” Akhtar said that once he had acted in “Rock On”, he was able to confront that fear most have while attempting something new. “I feel that once you do something don’t worry about the outcome. These are our fears, which stop us from attempting anything new.” He added that the parameters of success were different for different people.
Was there any downside to his juggling two roles now instead of one? “Yes my wife complains that I’m not home enough,” said he.
Sassy and smart
She’s ready to put her mouth where her money is. So when actor Preity Zinta claims that she is not ready to let anybody mess with her, it’s time to take her seriously. Zinta — who has been missing from the film circuit for a while &
#8212; said that she had been busy with cricket and the IPL, but “now I intend to come back with a bang”.
While gossip columns are writing reams about her love life, Zinta — true to her uber cool stance — said that she was tired of the mush being written about her and Ness Wadia. “He has a mind of his own, so do I. And I don’t influence his work or personal preferences. Look, I don’t talk bad about anyone. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But if you are going to mess with me, I suppose I will retaliate.”
Zinta said that the best survival mantra in the industry was “never get involved with your co-actor. Have a great working relationship,” she said. Meanwhile, as per her plans, she will go ahead with establishing her cricket academy for young talent. “That is something I am totally committed to,” adds Zinta. Knowing her it’s bound to be a success
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