Just before the release of Raid, t2 sat down with the usually reticent Ajay Devgn at Sun ‘n’ Sand hotel in Mumbai to talk about his new film with director Raj Kumar Gupta, turning 50 and why he’s been travelling to Singapore so often these days. 

Is it true that you heard a story from an income tax officer and thought it would make for a film?

It wasn’t me but Kumarji (Mangat Pathak, Raid’s co-producer) who heard the story first. When I heard the whole incident, his life and career, it was very fascinating. Just the incident on its own is like a complete film. It has family drama, tension and suspense. When they say ‘Truth is stranger than fiction’, they are right! 

And not just the story, I thought the character (income tax officer Amay Patnaik) I am playing was also interesting. When you think of people sacrificing for the larger good, you think of freedom fighters or soldiers, but there are people among us who go beyond the call of duty. They put their lives and families at risk for honesty and the love for their country. That’s how the process started. 

What made you pick Raj Kumar Gupta to direct this film?

When we started talking about who could direct this film, Raj was first on our list. He keeps his films very real and still creates drama. It’s easy to do a realistic film, but it’s hard to create drama. While writing a film based on real events, you are limited because you can’t deviate from the truth, you can’t just make up stuff. Raj knows how to strike that balance between staying true to the incident and creating enough drama. 

Over the years, you’ve played law enforcement officials, with or without the uniform…

But it’s not intentional!

Of course! Is there something that these characters have in common with each other?

I would they are all selfless, whether it’s Singham, Gangaajal or Raid. 

Your last film Golmaal Again was a blockbuster. How important is that when your last few films didn’t do that well?

Baadshaho did well. Also, I can’t expect Raid to do the same kind of business that Golmaal (Again) did. Not only are the two films catering to different audiences, they were made on different budgets. If Raid does half the business of Golmaal, it’ll be a bigger hit because its budget was quite low. 

A blockbuster means that more people have seen a film and that’s what a performer wants. Blockbusters like Golmaal also help sustain an actor’s career. I have always tried to strike a balance between films like Golmaal and Raid. 

You have always talked about not having a planned career and yet you seem to have struck that balance. How?

The only plan I have is to do a different kind of film from the one I have just completed. After Raid, I am doing a rom com, then there is Total Dhamaal and Tanaji, which is a historical biopic. All I am doing is alternating genres so that I don’t get bored. And then everything else falls into place. 

Your next two films star Tabu and Madhuri Dixit. Bollywood has a problem with ageism…

But things are changing. It all boils down to the script. The romcom I am doing required a young girl that Rakul (Preet) is playing and Tabu is also there. It’s a comic drama between a woman of my age and a young girl. In Total Dhamaal, Madhuri is opposite Anil (Kapoor). Today, I think the audiences have evolved and better characters are written for people in my age group. 

But you have to admit that age is not really a factor when it comes to actors. 

I can’t play a college student anymore, nor can you have these girls running around trees anymore. These days it doesn’t make a difference to the women as well, because people have started writing films for women in my age group. These actresses are getting meatier roles these days. 

Talking about age, you are going to be 50 next year. It’s a landmark age. 

(Laughs) It really doesn’t matter. I have never thought like this. I didn’t have a special celebration when I turned 21 or 40. It’s going to be the same for 50. It’s just a number. 

People normally tend to take stock of their life and career…

That’s not how I am. I am happy with where I am in my life right now but I never thought I’d want only two kids or marry someone like Kajol. I have been very lucky to have got the life that I have lived. 

Years ago, you had told me about the night-time chats your daughter Nysa and you’d have that would result in her staying up late and Kajol getting angry with both of you...

(Laughs) Yes! She used to get very angry with me. I now do this with (son) Yug.

Now that Nysa has moved to Singapore to study, you must be missing her a lot?

I really miss her. That is why I keep landing up in Singapore every fortnight. I run away to Singapore at every opportunity! I don’t call her often through the day but we are constantly chatting. It’s really hard to not have her here.

This is your 27th year in the business. Is there any character that you still want to play or people you want to work with?

I have never thought of this. All I want is to work till the end. I have been working very hard for 27 years and when I am not working I start missing it. Even on a holiday, after two days I start itching to get back. Whether as an actor, director, producer or even something outside films, all I know is that I need to keep working.