Arjun turns serious

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Arjun Rampal is turning serious and that too in more ways than just one. While he seems to be making just the right choices while being ultra serious about his career, one look at his choice of films and one can see that not just are most of them with directors of repute, they also require him to don a rather serious avatar.

Films with Prakash Jha, Sudhir Mishra and Madhur Bhandarkar are pretty much a testimony to that.
Even these filmmakers have discovered a new Arjun and are picking and choosing him for all important roles. “Well, I think so,” smiles Arjun. “I think all these directors too have noticed that I wish to push the envelope. There is an element of surprise that I wish to offer to my directors. Now I can’t do that when the subject itself is ordinary or mediocre, but the kind of films that these makers have brought before me are good enough to allow me that leverage,” he says.
This is what makes him one of the newest favourite with Prakash Jha who, after Raajneeti and Chakravyuh, has now cast him as a lead protagonist in Satyagraha as well.
“Over the years, since Prakash and I have been working together, we have got along really well. There is definite understanding that has developed between us. It could be because he likes to work with his actors in a way where he can mould them and make them do different stuff. Moreover, he also gives liberty and the setting that allows you to do the job right with utmost honesty. This is very rare with filmmakers. But the way Prakash works, he is determined and focused with much clarity.”
Something similar was expected in his stint with Madhur Bhandarkar as well, when he agreed to work in Heroine, well aware from the beginning that as a heroine-centric film, it will be focussing on Kareena Kapoor.
“But you saw that I was there in the film from the start till the end,” smiles Arjun. “See, to begin with I was apprehensive since the film was about a heroine. Still, Madhur was sure that I would fit in very well. Also, I wanted to work with him for a really long time and I am happy to have done the film. I think my role of a superstar, who was Kareena’s love in the film, came across very nicely.”
From Kareena, Arjun has moved to Esha Gupta now and his lovemaking sequence with her is finding some mileage as well. However, in the film’s context, where Naxals and cops are filling the frames and a socio-political statement is being made, does he really feel that his lovemaking sequence fits in well?
“Esha isn’t playing an ordinary housewife in the film. She is a cop too and hence her contribution is much more than just a lovemaking scene. Moreover, the scene comes at that point in the film when my character is down and hurt and feels that everything and everyone is going against him. It is there for a reason and not titillation,” reasons Arjun.
Meanwhile, he is also looking forward to some exciting months with Inkaar, D-Day and Satyagraha, all set to arrive in 2013 and featuring him in prominent roles.
“Yes, at times I may play a lead and at others I may be one of the supporting cast members. However, I have to play my part well as an actor. In any case, I look at a film in totality. I have always believed that the only central character in a film is the film itself,” he says.
A conversation with him cannot conclude before he shares his plans about the Formula One event parties. “Oh yes, they would indeed be ultra special. The parties would be the ones to watch out for. They would be as ‘happening’ as they get. Stay tuned for something truly memorable,” promises Arjun before signing off.