A dip in the temperature means Christmas, New Year parties and... a Dev film, which releases on his birthday. With two decades in cinema, he stands at a point where experience meets momentum — this year brought blockbusters, milestones, emotional reunions, and a renewed creative hunger. Dev opens up about his journey, the philosophy behind Projapati 2, and why the next phase of his career feels more meaningful than ever.

Happy birthday, Dev! How do you feel when your birthday comes around?

Even today, I feel like a year has passed in a second. In December, last year, Khadaan was playing to packed houses, and suddenly — boom — one year has gone by. This year has turned out really well. I feel optimistic. Honestly, I can’t believe how fast time flew. There’s huge pressure on release day. There’s so much emotion attached to Projapati 2.

Do birthdays make you think about resolutions or plans for the future?

I want to do something big in 2026. Personally, I want to create more meaningful and entertaining films. That’s my focus now. Overall, 2025 has been one of the most memorable years of my career.

What are your birthday plans for December 25?

My films usually release around this time... all my Christmas releases have done really well. Touchwood. Somewhere, I feel that the fans have been kind to me. And every year I try to give them something new, something exciting. That is why I try to experiment... that is why I want to try out different things. This time it’ll be all about Projapati 2 and its release! It is a film that is very close to my heart. During this time, we wait for the feedback.

Dev Picture: Debarshi Sarkar; wardrobe: Sandip Jaiswal

Also, with a Christmas release comes new challenges. So there is always this added pressure. A festive occasion means multiple releases and one has to prove oneself every time.

After experimenting with different genres, what kind of films do you want to focus on now?

I’ll choose both larger-than-life stories and films that revolve around families — but only if there’s something I truly want to say. That said, I do have scripts I’m working on. There are stories I genuinely want to tell, and they will happen soon. 2026 is going to be special again.

Projapati 2 isn’t a sequel to Projapati. Why the name?

It’s not a sequel. Originally, the working title was Pratikkha. During a script meeting last year, we learned something interesting — in society, we hear about a single mother raising a child. But being a single father is equally challenging, in a different way. That emotion stayed with me, and it became the core concept of the film. In Projapati, the son wanted his father to get married. In this film, the father wants his son, who is a single parent, to get married. The casting, director, and producer remain the same. There’s nostalgia, branding, and emotional continuity — so the name Projapati 2 felt right.

Would you have taken up such a role 10 years ago? Or does it come with maturity?

I think I’m the perfect age now to play a single father. I’ve explored all kinds of roles in family dramas — father-son dynamic, domestic conflicts, responsibility — and I never want to repeat myself. This story is fresh, and I had never played a character like this before. It has a father-daughter bond at its heart. Kids connect with me naturally, and that helped a lot. The maturity I have now has made this role possible. It took us 1.5 years to write this film.

While shooting in Stratford-upon-Avon, we heard that director Avijit Sen insisted on taking a shot with ducks as they ambled into the frame at exactly the right distance and formation. So the entire team waited patiently for the ducks to ‘act’! Tell us about that!

I told him my experience of shooting with the three B’s — baby, boat and beast. It’s very challenging. With kids, their mood is important, and then you shoot accordingly. You have to become a kid while shooting with them. Then there is the boat. It is difficult to shoot a scene involving a boat because it moves in the water current. And the third is the beast, the animal. And I have done that too.

On a serious note, in this film, Avijit has done phenomenal work. He has brilliantly told the story, captured the emotions, framed the shots and worked on the nuances. It’s a completely fresh take on a family drama. You must have seen so many family dramas. But you haven’t seen something like Projapati 2. Everything feels fresh: our looks, costumes, locations, songs.

Tell us about working with the child actor Anumegha in the film.

The child is extremely important in this film. She has to be expressive, emotional, and truthful. When I met Anumegha for the first time, I was sporting a huge beard... since I was shooting for Raghu Dakat then. At first, she could not recognise me. When she met me again after a few months, I was clean-shaven then. Then she kept asking me, ‘Where is your beard?’ She’s brilliant. She is one of the finest child actors I’ve worked with. She’s an asset. While shooting with a child, the secret is simple: you have to become a child yourself. You have to meet them at their emotional level.

Did you discover anything new about Mithun Chakraborty this time?

He remains the same. Mithunda is so dedicated, disciplined and punctual. He is so humble and grounded. Also, one can learn certain technical nuances of acting from him. I have known Mithunda since 2009, and to play our characters, we really didn’t have to ‘act’ as such. It was so natural. Our off-screen bonding translates so well on screen.

You’ve often spoken about the changing culture of competition in the industry. What worries you most?

Cinema should grow through great work and honest competition, not by pulling each other down.

You’re known for your emotional scenes. Where does that honesty come from?

I enjoy emotional scenes the most. I don’t overdo them. I don’t like too many takes. The first two or three takes are enough. If the emotion comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But it has to be genuine, truthful, and in the moment. That’s all I believe in.

Finally, what keeps you focused and optimistic?

Being at the right place, at the right time, with the right people. I’m grateful. I’m emotional. And I’m excited — because the best is still ahead.