EXCLUSIVE: Gulshan Devaiah on current perception of Bollywood: Ache log to ho hi nahi sakte hain na film industry mein

Gulshan Devaiah is known for his acting choices and the intensity and vivaciousness he brings to the screen in anything he does. This year, even in a small part like the one he had in Badhaai Do, he garnered immense amount of love and appreciation. Recently, he was seen in the show Duranga on Zee 5 opposite Drashti Dhami, and he got in an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble, where he opened up about his journey, perception of Bollywood and much more. Read excerpts of the interview here:

 

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It has been 12 years in the industry for you. How has this journey been?

“It has been all highlights only. I am here doing what I love and what I used to dream about when I was a kid, so I have nothing to complain. I am living my dream and it’s getting better and better. Of course there will be ups and downs, it can’t be a smooth sailing. Initially I couldn’t handle myself, I would feel uncomfortable in such scenarios, but now I can. It’s impossible to have an unblemished record, but I try.”

 

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In your show Duranga, your character has a dark side. Did it ever get taxing for you to tap that?

“Not really. It was intriguing in the beginning as I didn’t know how to start. But once I did, I had a few things in my mind, which I applied. I use a lot of my imagination and there is something dark lurking in the background with my character. And once I figured it out, it became a bit easy. Itna experience ho gaya hai that I know where to draw a line that I shouldn’t cross, otherwise it will affect my personal life and people around me.”

 

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Your character is also involved in a big lie with their partner. What is the biggest lie that you have gotten away with in real life?

“One of the first jobs that I did when I graduated from fashion school was a teaching job. I was 22 years old when I started teaching and some of my students were as old as me, and some in other departments were even older, so I used to lie about my age at that time. I grew a moustache to look older. Everyone wants to look younger, but I wanted to look older. I would tell my age 3-4 years older. It was fun but then you had to keep it up.”

 

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Currently the film industry seems to be going through a bad phase, even people’s perception towards it has changed a lot. What is your take on it?

“Sabko pata hai waise bhi hamari industry to badnaam hi hai. Humko kuch bolne ki zarurat nahi hai, log maan lete hain ki hum ye karte hain, wo karte hain. Ache log to ho hi nahi sakte hain na film industry mein.

As for the bad phase and some films not doing well, this has always been the case. In Hindi only, even if we take 200 releases a year, how many of them are hits and how many are flops? So, does that mean we are going through a bad phase right now? No. Some very expensive films didn’t really perform well, but some not so expensive ones did quite okay. I think post-pandemic people have more options to get entertained, so they are a little slow to go to theatres. It is just a matter of time when things will settle down and everything will coexist. Abhi doomsday scenario jaisa log soch rahe hain. I think we are suffering more in our imagination than in the reality.”

 

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You had quite a small role in Badhaai Do but it got so much love. Did you expect the appreciation it received?   

“Some reviewer had actually gone through the trouble of timing my part, it was between 6-7 minutes (laughs). I didn’t do that role because I wanted to be appreciated, I did it because I thought it would be good. It was a 9 page role which was really nicely written. I wasn’t expecting anything, then whatever came my way, I was very happy.”

 

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In Duranga, it’s shown how when you are in a relationship you look beyond the red flags. Have you ever done that in your love life? 

“I have done that many times and I have learnt from my mistakes not to do them ever again. I don’t do that anymore. Nobody can be an expert in relationships. I have been married, I have been divorced, I have had my share of relationships, good ones and bad, but I can never say that I have figured it out.”

 

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You are also quite vocal about your views on social media, like the one you put out about nepotism. Does it ever worry you how people might perceive them and it might affect you?

“Sometimes it does. I made a series on twitter about what bothers me more than nepotism, so I did it to amuse myself and also at the same time I am trying to make a point. I also saw that people have their own motives. People who are in the position of power are no different from us, everyone just want that power to themselves.”

Also Read: Duranga Review: Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami starrer makes for an interesting watch but has minor flaws