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Young actor talks about his recent encounter with a crocodile during the shooting of The Flag and other exciting events in his professional life...

After a promising start in films like Murder and Fight Club, your career has not seen many hits recently. Where did you lose the momentum?
I have done five to six good films in the past two years and those are numbers I am comfortable with. I understand that I cannot do ten films in a year and expect my career to grow. Right now I''m selective about the roles I accept and if you go through the lineup of films I have recently done you would know that its only the good subjects and stories that I draw me to a film. I have done a film like Banaras alongside Urmila Matondkar, Dimple Kapadia and Naseeruddin Shah. As long as I am doing films like that I am sure my career is exciting.
How disappointing was the failure of Banaras?
I don''t consider Banaras as a commercial failure at all. In fact the film catered to a different section of the audience. Generally the majority of cinegoers comprise of the youth but Banaras fared well with the thirty- plus age groups. Also the movie did very well overseas and made it to film festivals. Its DVD sales have been steadily rising as well.
What is the concept of your upcoming film The Flag?
It''s a period film and is based in the year 1942, while India was still under the British colonial rule. There is a village named Kanakpur, in the remote interiors of Bhuj, where the British troops unleash atrocities. The villagers become defiant of the changing autocratic times and an uprising takes place. Incidentally, The Flag is also inspired by a similar incident that had actually taken place in North India during the British rule.
So do you play a revolutionary leader?
On the contrary, I play a simple-minded and naive villager, Deva. He is an impulsive person, with a passion for his homeland. His untamed personality comes to the fore when he decides to drive out the foreign raiders from his home.
Your reptilian encounter is much in the news currently. What happened between you and the croc?
We were shooting in the interiors of Bhuj and the production staff was diligently looking for a lake that was not infested with crocodiles. After days of prodding and searching they were finally able to locate one with no crocodiles in it. The shoot was set on the banks of the lake and some of the staff were in the water directing a few technical set-ups when they spotted something floating on the surface. The moment they realised it was a croc they ran for higher ground. Fortunately for the croc, I had not stepped into the water by then.

Shooting in Bhuj with a theme of British colonial rule, The Flag seems to have lot in common with Lagaan.
Well the similarities of The Flag and Lagaan end at the location and basic setting. Apart from these two elements the two films have nothing in common. Lagaan was based on cricket and showed the plight of villagers pitted against corrupt British governance, whereas The Flag speaks of an uprising as villagers attempt to liberate themselves completely from the British rule.
Would you be sporting traditional Gujarati attire or even putting on a Gujarati accent perhaps?
No, the characters and dialogues in the film are generic. Although I thought similarly and spoke to my director about it, he was of a strong belief that a clear Hindi dialect would be the best way to go. The film has a common appeal for the entire country and having a Gujarati accent or dialect would not work too well.
First the MMS, then the Casanova image and now the new crocodile hunter. Does the ability to make headlines and stay in limelight something that comes naturally to you?
I don''t see myself in such an image at all. In reality, I am an introvert and a really reserved person. I may attend a party or visit a club with my friends occasionally but seldom do I want be under the spotlight. These are rumours that can not be controlled or stopped.
What are your upcoming films?
I am working on an adventure thriller called Toss which is being filmed primarily in Goa. Then there is Kabhi Kahin, a film about a road trip. It has a good lineup of actors and is shot a lot in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Also there is children''s animated film called Friends Forever.
Are you still in a process of attempting reconciliation with your sister?
Well, right now I have stopped pursuing her to come back to the family. But with all my faith in God, I still hope and pray that things can be sorted out between Amisha and I.

Screen India