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Candid moments

Shiney Ahuja plays Mahesh Bhatt in Woh Lamhe

SHINING, SMILING Shiney Ahuja in a shooting location PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY

Meet Shiney Ahuja, the young actor whom serious directors like Sudhir Mishra and Mahesh Bhatt chose for roles of substance in Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi and Gangster respectively. Despite being a relative newcomer, Shiney is "pitted against" the vivacious and talented Sushmita Sen in his forthcoming film Zindaggi Rocks. And this Delhiite, who seems to have become Bhatt's favourite for now, will play Bhatt's real-life character in his next roll-out, Woh Lamhe releasing this coming Friday.

We know Bhatt as one of the most articulate persons in Bollywood and it sounds a contrast for him to have chosen a rather shy person like Shiney to portray himself in the film that essays his love-affair with actress Parveen Babi!

"That's rather interesting," responds Shiney. "It was more of a responsibility than a challenge because such films become a part of history. I had no courage to ask Bhatt saab about his life despite the fact that I am essaying him in the film. I got to know him more through the script and the way he wanted me to delineate certain scenes," he recalls. It got emotional towards the end in the film where suddenly things start disappearing from the protagonist's mind. "In that scene when someone asks me about why did I leave her (actress Parveen Babi played by newcomer Kangana Ranaut in the film) like that, I had to say `I don't know' delineating a lost man. It was very touching. I reeled under it for quite long," he admits.

For this "temperamentally laidback" person, his reserved nature hinders his "so-called growth" in the film industry. "I have never been much of a social person. I didn't get my roles by partying around. But I am learning because socialising is a part of the film life."

He recalls, "When I entered the film industry, I thought I had to work all the time. But it was not so. You work 25 per cent and rest 75 per cent is wheeling dealing. I used to be in my comfort zone that 25 per cent time. But during the rest 75 per cent, I used to be very cautious. Because at that time you are not dealing with people, you are dealing with egos. People also misunderstood me. They would come and ask, `Hey, why are you so serious always, just be cool'. I would smile." And the irony is, this commerce graduate from Delhi University's Hansraj Collegefeels a little dissatisfied with some roles on offer.

For instance, in Zindaggi Rocks produced by BAG Films, he plays an introvert doctor. Sushmita Sen, a single mother and a rock dancer in the film, comes into his life "like a hurricane" and teaches him how to live life to the fullest despite all odds.

"Frankly speaking, I did not have much of a challenge because I am playing almost myself. That way Gangster was much more exciting," he adds. If you ask Anurradha Prasad, the producer, she says she chose Shiney opposite Sushmita because "he has a capacity to hold. A man opposite her should not look lesser."

Next in Shiney's kitty is Priyadarshan's comedy with Vidya Balan and Akshay Kumar, the UTV produced Metro with Shilpa Shetty and Sudhir Mishra's an unnamed film.

RANA SIDDIQUI

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