“Playing a 12 year old was like walking a thin rope” – Aftab Shivdasani

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

November 13, 2009 - 11:17 AM IST

Aao Wish Karein releases today and till yesterday, actor turned producer Aftab Shivdasani was busy supervising last minute nitty-gritty. He is one of the select few actors in the industry who has turned to production at such a young change. Playing the triple role of a producer, actor and a writer was something that Aftab hadn't quite fathomed.

“Playing a 12 year old was like walking a thin rope” – Aftab Shivdasani

"I seriously feel whether 40 hours a day would have been good enough or not", Aftab brings on a smile here as he anxiously awaited audience response to his first ever 'baby', "As a producer, you realise that time is of such an utmost importance."

Even as an actor, Aftab was quite challenged since the character that he enacts required him to have the innocence and purity of a 12 year old boy even when he has turned 22 overnight. Quite a few actors may have feared slipping with such characterisation since there is a good probability of a role like this resulting in the protagonist merely relying on making funny faces or acting a little insane.

"That's true", agrees Aftab, "I had to walk a thin rope because there is a fine difference between playing a child and acting a little mad. I decided that let me just play it all simple rather than thinking or rehearsing too much around how a kid would look at things and behave. I am glad when I see the final cut of the film, since I know for sure that if I had given this portrayal too much of thought, it would have turned mechanical and made it look all practiced and rehearsed. It was good to come up with a natural act while just getting into the boots of a 12 year old kid."

For this, Aftab made sure not to go overboard even once and keep his facial expressions, mannerisms and body language in check. With a subject like this where an overnight transformation happens to a human body (a 12 year old boy desires to turn into a young man and his wish is granted), Aao Wish Karein could have easily slipped into the Mr. Ya Miss zone where Aftab was converted into Antara Mali via a bad dream.

"While comedy there was slapstick, proceedings are completely subtle in Aao Wish Karein", Aftab explains the difference, "There is no over the top act, no vulgarity or any mandatory jokes around manhood. Instead, the film retains its simplicity course and focuses primarily on the quest of this boy who wishes to woo his lady love."

As the sole lead in the film, Aftab was also required to carry the entire film on his shoulders unlike quite a few multi starrers that he has been a part of. While being good in comedy is a given for him (Masti, Awara Paagal Deewana, De Taali), one awaits how Aao Wish Karein showcases a different facet of him as an emotional lover boy.