Tired after numerous promotions for Herogiri and workshopping for Aparna Sen’s ‘Romeo Juliet’, Dev chatted with t2 on being successful and being optimistic. 

You look like you’ve just woken up from sleep for this interview!
No, no... I am really tired from all the promotions and interviews for Herogiri and workshopping for Rinadi’s (Aparna Sen) Romeo Juliet where the dialogues are in verse! Very difficult. Script porte giye amar dom beriye gechhe! It’s a very challenging role, a very ‘unlike Dev’ role. It’s tougher than Bunohaans and Chander Pahar. I am challenging myself to do this... I have to do something new, something I haven’t done before. I am trying to break myself with every film.

2014 wasn’t really a great year for the industry. Will 2015 be different?
Expectations lead to disappointment. My job is to work and I’m doing that. Herogiri (directed by Ravi Kinagi and produced by Surinder Films, hits screens on Friday) is my first release this year. If you rewind to the last two years, I tried to do something different... I’m trying to entertain the audience in various ways. 
2014 was one of the most happening years for me. If you see the kind of films I have done, it’s better than everyone’s. Of course Bunohaans won’t match up to the business of my masala films. I did Bunohaans because I wanted to do something different, the appreciation for such films is more. Show me one hero in Tollywood who experiments so much! I don’t need to either, but I’m trying toh. There was a dip in the market, so the business of my films went down too. But I also did other things like Dance Bangla Dance for Zee Bangla, the first reality show of my life. I did so many things in 2014 which were new for me.
And of course being an MP, which I never thought I could be. The number of votes with which I won was also remarkable... getting so much love from the people. With so much happening in my life, had you been in my place what would you have said?

Yes, it was a really eventful year for you…
Yes, eventful and successful. How else do you feel successful? My films did business, according to the market. I had a lot of expectations from Chander Pahar. I did everything for that film and it ran for six months. All films can’t do business like that! The only film that I banked on heavily was Bunohaans because it was completely different from what I had ever done. Tony (Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury) is a beautiful filmmaker but he maintains a low profile. Bunohaans is the film of my life and I am happy with it. If you think negative, it is negative, if you think positive… it’s all up to you. Let me ask you, can you name some films of other heroes which did good business in 2014? 2014 was definitely not a very happening year but business-wise my films have done well, that’s why Bunohaans 2 will be made, Chander Pahar 2 will be made. There’s a dip, I agree. But there’s still a market. On television my films get the highest TRP. 

In your last t2 interview, you had said that you would be extra careful because if your films flop people will blame it on you joining politics…
A human being should be known by his behaviour and not by which party he belongs to. Political parties believe in the divide-and-rule policy. I should be judged only for my work and nothing else. Politics is getting overhyped. Dev should not be introduced as the member of a political party. All I want is that my city, my constituency should develop. 

Is that why we see so little of you in political events these days?
I am very busy, honestly. I am shooting back-to-back films and I have promotions, workshops. I don’t understand the ABCD of politics even now and I don’t think I will ever understand it. Politics to me means doing good for the people. If I am free even for a day, I prefer going to Ghatal. 

What’s been your biggest regret till now?
The only problem with me is that I never look back. I am one of God’s blessed children who got everything he wanted from life. I never thought I would be able to buy a car one day. I had thought of joining Baba’s catering business. That guy is today sitting and giving interviews! In these eight years I have only gone up, up, up. Every day I thank God because of where I am today. 

As you rise in life, you also carry a lot of baggage…
Yes, every successful person, at the end of the day, is alone. People will only criticise you. The more you rise the more people will bad-mouth you. People forget that in my own little way I too have contributed. Who has supported me in my journey? When I came to Calcutta, I knew no one. I have tried to reach where I am today. Good, bad, ugly... at least I have tried. And I am still grounded. 

Where do you see yourself in the next six months?
I am thinking I will get married, have kids and send them to school! (Laughs) What more can I plan apart from acting in more films? 

Okay, coming back to Herogiri, have you done herogiri in real life?
Na go! Basically I am a very simple guy. I am normal and I don’t show off much. At home Ma and Baba are my heroes and I am a bhitu! 

How was it sharing screen space with Koel Mallick in Herogiri for the eighth time? 
It only gets better. In every film, I teach Koel the craft of acting and she is learning from me every day! (Smiles) While doing Herogiri I taught her how to remain a good girl post-marriage! And she is a very good student! (Laughs)

Phones he uses: Samsung Galaxy Note4 and iPhone 6.
How often do you check WhatsApp/Facebook/Twitter: Every two-three hours.
Which Bolly celeb do you follow on Twitter: SRK.
Films apart, what else do you share on Twitter: I wish people on their birthdays. 
Games you play on your phone: Fifa 15.
How often do you click a selfie with your phone: Never. I am not a selfie guy. People are so self-conscious! I’m not!
What’s your best pose in front of the camera: I don’t like to pose. I like being casual. 
Which is your best angle in front of the camera: I never understood my best angle. I know people who know their angles, like for some it’s left or right. I think it’s best to leave it to the audience. Only failures bother about these things. 
Whose photographs do you store the most on your phone: (Thinks hard) A friend of mine recently had a daughter. Her name is Amaira and I have lots of her photographs. 
One gadget on your wish list: A chartered flight!

 

Manaswita Sinha, a huge Dev fan and an avid t2 reader, had the moment of her life with Dev after the interview. Here’s what the Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College student of psychology asked her hero…

Manaswita: You took part in politics, was it a conscious decision?
Dev: No, initially it was not. But if we don’t (join politics) then who will? Someone who is 60 will not understand what the youth want. So someone of our generation has to represent us. 

Manaswita: But there’s so much controversy around...
Dev: All over India there’s controversy. If we don’t take part and bring in a change, then our children too will grow up around this controversy. Isn’t it?

Manaswita: But that may hamper your career…
Dev: No, see at the end of the day, you need to be genuine. If you are correct and honest then it won’t hamper your life. Politics will be looked down upon till the time you don’t take a part in it. Joining politics is not a post-retirement plan. Young India should come forward and join politics. 

Manaswita: Women are not safe in our state…
Dev: See, you have to be loud with your voice, you must come forward and complain. Don’t sit on it and ignore it. 

Manaswita: Most women are scared to come out in the open...
Dev: That’s what I am saying. You have to come out, lodge a complaint and fight against it. Sitting and watching TV and criticising the government is not enough. You have to take a stand. Be vocal. 

Manaswita: We loved you as Amal (in Bunohaans). Will we get to see you in those avatars more?
Dev: Yes, I am playing Rono in Aparan Sen’s take on Romeo Juliet next. Okay, let me ask you, which was the first Dev film you watched?

Manaswita: I Love You. I was in Class VI at that time.
Dev: Really! I was in Class VII! (Laughs)

Manaswita: I watch all your films in the theatres. I am a huge, huge fan and I want to thank t2 for giving me this opportunity. I am in a daze, very nervous yet extremely excited!

Kushali Nag
What’s the one question you want to ask Dev? Tell t2@abp.in