On Sunday, in the t2 office, Khokababu made his fans go paglu! And the craziness was infectious. Star-cum-MP Dev zipped in around 5pm and had us in splits from the get-go with his quips and wisecracks. Bubbling with energy and always on the lookout to pull a prank (ask his Tolly heroines!), Dev took us on a roller-coaster ride through his Puja plans, latest projects and loves, while sipping tea and munching on prawn and mango pinwheel sandwiches from The Lalit Great Eastern.

What are your Puja plans?
Which one do you want, the truth or the lie?! *wink* I’ll be at home catching up on sleep. Immediately after, I start work on my home production Dhumketu. I would also love to go out but the streets are so congested… you have to think a thousand times before stepping out. You don’t get to see anyone on bandh days but everyone’s out on the streets on Puja days. 

And I have a Puja release, Shudhu Tomari Jonno (directed by Birsa Dasgupta and co-starring Shrabanti, Mimi and Soham), a complete romantic-passionate-emotional love story... in a commercial format. It’s a relationship film that all can connect with. 

Your fave Puja memory?
Puja maane dandiya! As kids, in Bombay, we would wait eagerly to buy dandiyas. We would plan out the Puja nights with friends and would even meet new groups of people, including girls!

Did you chat up girls then?
No ya, if I had that much courage then would I have stayed back in Calcutta (laughs)?! You know, everyone enjoys the Calcutta Puja no matter what community they belong to. Pujas unite us. People want to enjoy these three-four days no matter what. It’s an amazing feeling.

Have you fallen in love during Puja?
Never... and after becoming Dev, I can’t look at anyone! If I look, then that person will say, ‘See, he is eyeing me!’ Forget all that, my car got damaged during Puja, ya! About four years ago, I had to go somewhere at night. I had just bought my dream car, a BMW, and was driving it myself when I got stuck in traffic. Suddenly a few people spotted me and next thing I know they were all over my car: ‘Devda Devda, we want to shake your hand!’ It was crazy and I didn’t know how to get out of the situation. Who would help me at 1.30am?! Who do I call?! Finally, after a lot of pleading, they let me go.  So only during Puja I wonder, ‘Why did I become Dev?! I could have remained Deepak!’ (Smiles) And you know, I paint my car every six months, because people write messages on it like ‘I love you Dev’. After a point I just stopped painting!

Did you go out during Puja when you were staying in Howrah before moving to south Calcutta?
It was like a mela! They would block the lane leading to my home after 6pm, and I couldn’t even get into the lane to park my car. That’s how I got to know what happens here during Puja. Let me tell you, in terms of traffic, the Howrah Bridge is one of the craziest places. I have pushed my car at least 10-15 times on Howrah Bridge. And no one helps you if your car gets stuck on Howrah Bridge.

Often I would take a cab to get to a Metro station and then reach Tollygunge. 

After the dream car, let’s talk about your dream girl… what qualities must she have?
She has to be sensible, understanding, someone who is not serious… I hate serious people around me.  

Where would you go on a dream date with your dream girl?
I’ll go to Miami. And we’ll go fishing. There’s a place in Miami where the sky and the ocean just merge. It is so beautiful. I think Dostana was shot there. Fishing increases your patience level, and when I’m fishing I don’t take phone calls. 

Your fave restaurant for a date?
I’m not a foodie, so ja debe tai kheye nebo. And if you are out on a date, is the food important?! I’ll be launching my restaurant Tolly Tales in a month or two, and I’ll go there! The restaurant will be dedicated to the Tollywood industry. It’ll be a multi-cuisine restaurant. I will be doing this for my father. Otherwise, my fave restaurant in town is 13B in South City (director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s home)... and fave dish there is... single malt!

What is the idea behind Dev Entertainment Ventures?
For the last 10 years I have dedicated everything to Tollywood. I understand films more than anything else. There comes a time when you have to give back to the industry. So I want to help the industry grow again. 

I believe in mass films. If you want to be popular — and every actor wants that — then you have to do commercial films. Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise are super famous. But Tom Hanks is less famous. People who have seen Forrest Gump and Cast Away know what Tom Hanks is but then the kids swear by Tom Cruise and his Mission 
Impossible films.

Do you have a crazy fan story to share?
One time, a girl came all the way from Bangladesh to meet me at my (South City) home with her brother. When I came down to meet her, she said: ‘I want to marry you. My brother will be the witness. And I will stay here and not go back home’. I didn’t know what to do with her. She didn’t know anything about Calcutta, except South City and Sealdah station. I didn’t know how to get her back home. Finally, I called up Jadavpur police station and they came down, called her family and got her back home. 

So is this how they got the idea for Bajrangi Bhaijaan?!
(Laughs out loud) Correct!

You are known for playing pranks on set. What do your heroines have to say about that? 
They all get upset! Shrabanti starts crying. And once Mimi (Chakraborty) didn’t speak to me for three days. 

What’s the weirdest rumour you have heard about yourself?
Every day I hear something. Rumour and humour is part of the game. Some people make fun of us and spread rumours because that’s how they feel happy, probably.

You’ll be sporting a crew cut for Dhumketu... 
When someone recently asked me why I go for various looks in my films, I said that’s the only way I can cover my bad acting (laughs).... I’ll also put on weight for Dhumketu... 

Who would you like to take a selfie with?
I hate taking selfies. People don’t even ask when they want to take a selfie with me. If I’m someone’s fan, I would like to admire the person, not disturb him. That should be the aim of a fan. But a celebrity can’t say no since there are very few who’ll understand why he is saying no.

Tell us about your role in Bengal Celebrity League and your team Midnapore Mighties... 
Something new is happening, so I’m there to support it. At the end of the day it is also about what we are giving back to society. 

Who are your fave cricketers?
Sorry to say but I hate cricket now because it has become part of entertainment now. As a kid, I didn’t have cable at home and we would get it only during my vacation or World Cup. We would stay up nights to watch matches in West Indies, South Africa or get up early in the morning for matches in Australia. The sportsman spirit is not there anymore. It has become an entertainment show. 

Are you into videogames?
Yes, I have an Xbox at home and I play football. If I don’t feel sleepy at night, I play video games.

What’s your style statement?
How you portray yourself is more important than what you wear. Your behaviour is your biggest attire. 

I will go to the restaurant that Dev is opening because.... Tell t2@abp.in