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High on GangaaJal
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"GangaaJal" starring Ajay Devgan is making a splash around town. Meet the hero with a talent for keeping his head above water
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Ajay Devgan and the many shades of success
HIS DEBUT vehicle was pitted against the might of Anil Kapoor in Lamhe and Amitabh Bachchan in Akelya, and we all know that it was Phool Aur Kaante, which blossomed at the box-office, deflating the megaliths. It was more than a decade ago, but Ajay Devgan hasn't lost his appetite for springing surprises.
If he crashes to troughs with a Dhanwaan or a Divyashakti, it is only to touch the crest with a Zakhm. If he is dumped for an over-the-top performance in Ishq, he resurfaces with a straight-from-the-heart rendition in Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha.
Now with hits for Company and intrepid since Bhoot, Ajay is enjoying a success wave unheard of in the unstable celluloid waters. And speaking of waters, Ajay has turned the holy water - GangaaJal - into his latest tool to banish the tag of failure from Prakash Jha. . One doesn't know whether every accomplishment ushers in arrogance, but it does bring reticence if Ajay is any yardstick. So one finds a hushed Bhagat Singh basking in the glory of his second Rajat Kamal.
"All achievements give a great feeling of satisfaction that your hard work has been appreciated," says Ajay. But doesn't he feel he gave a better performance as Malik in Company? He nods in affirmation, smiles and answers in the negative. "See, Bhagat Singh had many shades while Malik had only one. That was the reason, perhaps."
Turn the discussion to his choice of roles, his conscious effort to portray characters where he has ample scope to underplay and his avoidance of comedy, and Ajay for a moment becomes animated. "I am open to all kinds of roles. If it is sensible comedy, I am game - and mind you, I didn't underplay in Deewangee and The Legend Of Bhagat Singh."
He is right, but The Legend Of Bhagat Singh was not a commercial success, while Deewangee and his forgotten light act Chori Chori were among his lowest scores during the past ten months.
Right now GangaaJal is hot, and Ajay passes the credit to Prakash. "The SP's character was Prakash's creation and it allowed me the freedom of not speaking with the Bihari accent. No special preparation was required. We share a great rapport, and it helps in creating a good product, because I was not playing the usual police officer with a vengeance. He explained the nuances of the character, like he is not going to break the law even when he is stretched to the limit. As I also feel the same, the performance becomes natural."
Even in the midst of this euphoria, Ajay is not ready to don the producer's hat again after duds like Hindustan Ki Kasam and Raju Chacha.
"Right now, there are no plans. We are happy with the TRP ratings of Devi and will continue with more television productions."
With Aparna Sen's Gulel under his belt, Ajay is confident that his boom-time is no short-lived Parwana and will continue with Zameen, Khaki and LOC. Well, then for Ajay, winning is a habit, literally.
ANUJ KUMAR
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