"Sanjay Dutt's character of Sattar bhai is the USP of EMI" - Ashish Chowdhry 
By Nikhil Ramsubramaniam, November 10, 2008 - 17:23 IST
He started out playing the baddie in T.V. serial 'Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye' but when it came to films it's his comic act that has fetched him maximum appreciation. Be it his first film Qayamat or the recent laugh riot Dhamaal, Ashish Chowdhry has slowly but surely made his mark as an actor who can bring a smile on your face. The good looking actor is now awaiting the release of EMI where he plays an average middle class guy who gets stuck in the vicious cycle of taking loans and repayment. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Ashish speaks about his experience of working on EMI, his future films and much more.
After the laugh riot Dhamaal, you are back with yet another multi-starrer EMI. How does it feel?
It feels superb especially because this one is also with Mr.Dutt. Sanju Sir is one person whom I have tremendous respect for, not just as an actor but also as a person. I have always been impressed with the way he has tackled the issues he has faced in his professional and personal life. Besides, he also seems like a lucky charm for me because my first film with him (Dhamaal) was a hit. So I'm hoping the same with this one as well.
Sanju Sir seems like a lucky charm for me because my first film with him (Dhamaal) was a hit. So I'm hoping the same with this one as well.
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So what is EMI all about? Is it a comedy, a drama or a satire on our society?
EMI is a very realistic kind of a film because the issue, which we have picked up in this film is realistic. 90% of the earning population of India knows what EMI means, what loans are, what its benefits, its advantages / disadvantages are. 80% of them are already taking loams for one thing or the other. Then you have around 20% of the population who are defaulters and what we have highlighted in this film is the recovery system used in our country to get back money from these defaulters. So you have goons hired by the banks to settle scores with the defaulters. All this makes for interesting viewing. Moreover I must add that the situations depicted in this film are very relevant in today's times when the markets are at an all time low and the fear of recession is looming large. So yes people should go and watch EMI...It is both entertaining and has a point to make.
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What we have highlighted in this film is the recovery system used in our country to get back money from these defaulters.
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Sanjay Dutt seems to be the central character in the film. What's his role and how was it working with him again after Dhamaal?
Sanjay Sir's character Sattar bhai is the USP of this film. He plays this light-hearted goon who is responsible for recovering money from defaulters. The funniest part is the way he recovers money from the various defaulters. His character in this film reminded me so much of Munnabhai not in terms of characterization but in terms of likeability of the character. Mr. Dutt has been someone whom I have been in awe of ever since I was a kid. During my college days, a lot of people told me that I look like Sanjay Dutt (of Rocky days) and it felt really good. I didn't know him much before Dhamaal but during the film I realized that he is so normal, so humble and very child-like. Despite all the troubles that he was going through during the shooting of Dhamaal, he kept a calm and composed demeanor which is amazing. There is so much to learn from him not just about acting but about living life in general.
What is your character in the film and what does he take a loan for?
I play this middle-class guy called Anil. He is a guy who has come from outside Mumbai and works as a junior level accountant in a small time garment firm. Initially he starts taking loans for himself but later on falls in love with a Mumbai girl. After marriage his loans double and before you know it, he has already taken a loan for his marriage, his honeymoon, a laptop, a car and all the other things that a Mumbai girl would ask for. The frustrations the character faces when he is unable to payback the loans and his encounter with Sattar bhai make for some really interesting and funny situations.
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I play this middle-class guy called Anil. He is a guy who has come from outside Mumbai and works as a junior level accountant in a small time garment firm.
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How easy or difficult was it to get into the skin of the character?
In most of my films, I have played this loud, over-the-top, comic character and hence it was a dream come true for me to play just an average common man. I realized its not easy playing a common man because your reactions have to be real. Even my look is that of your average middle-class guy. So yes, in many ways this has been the most difficult and challenging role of my career so far.
On a personal level, what do you think of EMI as a concept? Do you believe in taking loans or do you prefer making cash down payments?
I think it has become quite a worldwide phenomenon today but now that the market is crashing, people prefer to pay cash down. Technically, I'm very pro-loan. I think there is no harm in taking a loan but when it comes to loans, I always remember the saying, "Jitni badhi chadhar utna hi pair failao". For me taking a loan is also connected to my success in life. If I didn't take the loans that I have taken in my life, I wouldn't have worked hard enough to pay the EMI's. Whether they realize it or not, maximum people take loans and there is no harm in it as long as you know your limits.
This film is yet another multi-starrer. Do you think you will get noticed amidst a galaxy of stars like Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Urmila Matondkar and Malaika Arora Khan?
See...when the script came to me, I was very thoughtful and it was one script that made me scratch my head. I said "Wow they are planning to make a film based on this topic!!!" Even though I was a bit apprehensive at first about the concept, the fact that the film was being backed by 4 Top production houses (Popcorn Motion Pictures, Balaji Films, Sahara One Motion Pictures and T-Series) increased my belief in this project. Besides, when I saw the actors involved in this project, I decided that I do want to be part of this film considering it's an A-grade multi-starrer. Besides I love doing multi-starrers as it gives me a great opportunity to learn and interact with much more seasoned actors. I have made some of my best friends doing multi-starrers,
How has it been working with actors like Urmila Matondkar, Malaika Arora Khan and Arjun Rampal?
Urmila and I have done Speed before this. We both have pugs so that was a common topic for discussion (laughs). It was great bonding with her once again on this film. I really admire her as an actress. Malaika is like family because the entire Khan family has been extremely supportive and encouraging towards me. I feel proud that Malaika is doing her first full-fledged role as an actress in EMI. The only person new to me was Arjun. When I first met him, he was going through a phase where that one big hit was missing in his career. But now, after OSO and Rock On, Arjun is a name to reckon with. I have always believed that he is the best looking actor we have in the industry but now I am happy that he has even come of his own as an actor. Today even his presence is a big plus point for the film. Also last but not the least, I must mention that even Neha Uberoi who plays my wife in the film has done a really commendable job considering the fact that she is just a couple of films old.
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When I first met Arjun, he was going through a phase where that one big hit was missing in his career. But now after OSO and Rock On, Arjun is a name to reckon with.
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EMI is director Saurabh Kabra's debut film. How was it working with him?
I have a connection with Saurabh as he also comes from an advertising background. In fact like me, he too runs an ad agency, so there was so much more to discuss when we first met other than the script. He's a young guy, almost the same age as me so our wavelengths matched in more ways than one. Being an ad filmmaker he brought in a different, unique style of filmmaking which was really exciting. We really clicked very well and in fact we are even discussing the possibility of working together again.
Coming back to your career, you have been mostly appreciated in comic flicks. Is it something which comes naturally to you? Are you planning to stick to comedy or do you want to experiment with other genres as well?
Actually it's quite funny because if you recollect I started out playing a negative character in my serial 'Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye'. In fact I even got a lot of nominations for that character of mine. In Qayamat, my character was on the lines of Nicolas Cage's character in The Rock, though I bought in my own nuances. Once that clicked, I kind of started getting more of such funny guy roles and suddenly I was termed as a good comic actor. In fact in Speed, I played a negative character but unfortunately that film didn't work at the B.O. Nevertheless, I am going to play diverse roles in the future but at the same time I feel that when the audience has accepted you in a particular genre, there is no reason why you should stop doing it. I am not going to be one of those actors who turns around and says "I am not going to do any more comedy films."
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After EMI, there is Indra Kumar's Daddy Cool which should be out sometime in December this year. It is the first dark comedy after Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron
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After EMI, what are the other films which you are doing?
After EMI, there is Indra Kumar's Daddy Cool which should be out sometime in December this year. I am very positive about Daddy Cool after the success of Dhamaal. It is the first dark comedy after Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and that was one of the prime reasons for me okaying this film. It's based on one evening funeral where I and my older brother (played by Suneil Shetty) have lost our father. The chaotic situations that take place will literally bring the house down. Post Daddy Cool, I have Ravi Chopra's Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai which should be releasing in January next year. It was a dream come true for me to work for a banner like B.R. Films and moreover it has an ensemble cast comprising of Govinda, Lara Dutta and Tabu. Then there is Mukta Arts' Paying Guests, yet another light-hearted comedy directed by Paritosh Painter. The film stars Shreyas Talpade, Vatsal Sheth, Javed Jaffrey and it's about boys struggling to get accommodation in Bangkok and all the funny things they do to get accommodation. So all these films are ready for release and over the next 3 months, I will have a release almost every other month.
Have you signed any new films besides the above mentioned ones?
Yes I have ...there is UTV's Seasons Greetings starring Sohail Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Vatsal Sheth, Tabu, Nandana Sen and Javed Jaffrey (once again). In December, I start shooting for Vikram Bhatt's Purple Lake in Yorkshire. It's my first so-called solo film and is directed by one of Vikram's chief assistants Vishal. It's a mystery thriller on the lines of Vikram Bhatt's films such as Raaz, Kasoor etc. After that I take a short break in January as my wife Samita is due for delivery and post that I start work for Kya Fool Hai Hum.
Is it a sequel to the smash hit Kya Kool Hai Hum?
No its not...it's produced by Sangeeth Sivan and Sanjay Ahluwalia. They have got this as the working title. The film stars Govinda, Sohail Khan & Javed Jaffrey and is directed by Ajay Chandok. It's a real coincidence that barring EMI, Javed Jaffrey is there in almost all the movies that I am doing. I am sure we'll also be seen in Double Dhamaal (the sequel of Dhamaal)
Lots to look forward to in the coming months; finally give us 3 good reasons to watch EMI this week?
1. The concept is something which has not been attempted before anywhere. Moreover with the current market scenario, the issue the film tries to touch upon seems all the more topical.
2. You have to watch out for Sanjay Dutt as Sattar Bhai because I truly believe nobody plays a bhai as well as Sanju Sir
3. And finally, for the kind of people backing this project (namely Popcorn Motion Pictures, Balaji Films, Sahara One Motion Pictures and T-Series).
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"My Role is above the Script" - Aashish Chaudhary
