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Abhay Deol sports a big moustache in his next film 'Manorama' set in Rajasthan which he says is a tribute to noir genre of Hollywood films from the 40's 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, May 17, 2007 - 09:12 IST
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It's a film purely for entertainment sake and nothing else. I hope it's a ride that everybody enjoys.
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The humble boy Abhay Deol might have only worked with debutante directors so far but one will have to admit that all his films have been 'hatke'. He continues his legacy of working with first time filmmakers with all his upcoming films and talks about the same to IndiaFM.
What kind of response did you get for Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd? Do you feel like a superhero?
I was quite worried about how the role would shape up. It came out alright but I didn't expect people to like it so much. I was happy that they did. I was also happy about the fact that the reviews talked about me. So yea, I do feel like a superhero.
What is Ek Chalis Ki Last Local going to be like?
In some way it is a continuation of Honeymoon Travels, in a sense that it is also a comedy. My track in HTPL was over-the-top comedy but Ek Chalis Ki Last Localis a dark comedy. It's going to be one fun ride. It's a film purely for entertainment sake and nothing else. I hope it's a ride that everybody enjoys.
And isn't the film mainly shot at night?
Yes. And I guess the best part about shooting at night was that there was no Bombay traffic to deal with. So it was easier to commute. Weird incidences didn't happen really, except the Bhayandar stone throwing incident which has been spoken of many times.
You had a kissing scene with Minissha in HTPL and now you also kiss Neha Dhupia in ECKLL
It was a very technical and mechanical experience. Kissing scenes are never sensual while shooting them. You have ten people staring at you and the director is asking you to not block the light while you kiss.
Your next film Manorama Six Feet Under sounds an unusual title. What does that 'six feet under' imply?
As the title suggests, there is a character in the film called Manorama and she is Six Feet Under, which means she is dead. The film is essentially a murder mystery. It is quirky in some ways, as the title itself is somewhat on the quirky side.
I guess the best part about shooting at night was that there was no Bombay traffic to deal with
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Navdeep Singh is a debutante director. Tell us about his expertise.
Navdeep graduated from School and Art College from LA. He did some work in States and finally came down to India. He's been doing ads for the past four years and he has done really well in the ad world. This is going to be his first feature film.
I had met him within the first month that he had moved in to India through another person. We hit it off immediately and since that time, I've been looking forward to work with him. It was easier to work with him because our understanding of the film is similar. We share the same views and similar sense of humour. Manorama was a good script and we were expecting it to be a good film but when we saw the film, it seems to have gone way beyond anybody's expectations.
You have almost created a record of sorts working only with debutante directors.
It just happened. Out of the six debutante directors I worked with, two of them were my friends, Shivam and Navdeep, whom I knew from before. Others I met essentially with regards to work. I read their scripts and worked with them because I liked their scripts. And I think all of them had written their own scripts. So, even though they didn't have any earlier work of theirs to show me, I gave them the benefit of doubt.
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I gave the benefit of doubt to all my debutante directors.
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What is your character in Manorama?
I play a character named Satyaveer in Manorama and he works in the public works department. He is kind of bored of his middle class existence which includes small town, small life, small problems etc. There is no challenge or adventure in his life. And then a particular incident takes place and he gets sucked into a conspiracy, a murder mystery that he wants to solve.
Although he works in a public works department, he has dreams of becoming a writer. He has written a book called Manorama which hasn't fared very well, so he is disheartened. He is a creative person but he is not been allowed to move into that direction.
When Manorama, someone he knows, ends up dead, he wants to solve the case and it's a challenge for him. It also gives a new meaning to his life, a chance to do something rather than living his day to day life.
The film is Navdeep's tribute to the film noir genre of Hollywood films from the 40's. It's also his tribute the movie China Town. He has drawn inspiration from those kinds of films; he has lit the scenes in that manner, shot in that manner. I don't think anybody in this country has attempted film noir, especially based in small town. He has shot Rajasthan without falling into the clichés of Rajasthan with the women, pots, colours and sand dunes.
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Manorama shows Rajasthan without falling into the clichés of Rajasthan with the women, pots, colours and sand dunes.
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We heard you are sporting a big moustache in the film
Yes, I have a moustache as well. That's another great thing of working in Manorama since I got to play somebody older, mature. I am always getting this sweet boy-next-door kind of roles which I wanted to get out of but no one was getting me such scripts. Even for ManoramaI wasn't the first choice. Even though Navdeep is my friend, I was the second choice because he thought people won't accept me as an older man and father of a child, who is soft spoken and I was dying to play just that. Today, Navdeep is very happy with my performance.
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Even though Navdeep is my friend, I was the second choice for Manorama because he thought people won't accept me as an older man
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How was it working with Raima Sen, Gul Panag, Sarika and Vinay Pathak in the film?
I have known Gul from before, so it was nice to work with her finally. Raima and I did Honeymmoon Travels but we didn't have any scenes together. She is a bit of a cartoon, very sweet girl. It was nice to meet Sarika, since I have always seen her only in films. She is a fifteen year old at heart and so good looking. I have also known Vinay for a while now. So, it was very comfortable working with them.
Tell us about the English film you are doing - Meridian
Meridian has English and Hindi, its bi-lingual. It's about different characters and how they are sort of connected karmically. Karma connects these characters even though their lives are different and these cycles come together in different stories.
And what character do you play?
I play this guy who does odd jobs and has connection with the other character in the film and how it concludes, is my track in this film. Each one's track is about the cycle coming through and the conclusion.
Venod Metra for Meridian is again a debutante director
Venod is from England originally. He is probably the most chilled out director I have worked with. He is very easy going. We are very good friends now.
Are you very close to your uncle Dharmendra?
It's good. I actually even call him dad. We lived in a joint family, so I grew up calling him dad.
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I grew up calling Dharmendra as dad
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Who from your cousins do you relate more to - Sunny or Bobby?
I guess I relate more with Bobby, as we are closer in age. But in some ways I am very much like Sunny as a person
Abhay in a Rapidfire
You lie when…
Required
Rumor that made your day…
None
Compliment which you can't forget…
One which is often repeated that I am a natural actor
Things people are not aware about you…
I am very fickle. I can take any decision on an impulse and I can actually do it regardless of what anyone else would think
First crush...
In school
What is your pick up line?
May I buy you a drink?
Your sex appeal…
I don't know
Things you are passionate about…
Work, family and friends
Sexiest actor in Bollywood
Dharmendra
Sexiest actress in Bollywood
Gul Panag
Hollywood actor you resemble…
Many people say I look like Mark Ruffalo
Funniest thing you done…
There are many things which I find funny and others don't. So, I won't share it
Your ideal woman should have…
Good looks and better personality
What turns you on in a woman?
A combination of physical beauty and mental stability
And turn off…
Arrogance
Where do you see yourself 15 years from now?
Maybe in the mountains, retired by then
Change one thing about you
My gullibility
Brand I love…
I am not a brand person |
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Abhay and Neha on Mumbai Trains
