Ajay Devgn says he feels uncomfortable playing a 30-year-old onscreen, adds 50 is the new 40
Ajay Devgn speaks about playing his age onscreen and why it is really hard for actors to hide their age anymore.
bollywood Updated: May 06, 2019 12:29 ISTAjay Devgn will soon be seen in a comedy called De De Pyaar De, along with Rakul Preet and Tabu, where he will be seen as a 50-year-old romancing a 26-year old girl. In an interview to DNA, Ajay spoke about the experience of playing his age onscreen, adding how 50 was the new 40.
On the issue of playing his age, Ajay said that it was impossible to hide one’s age today. He was quoted as saying: “Yeah, I turned 50 in April and everyone knows this fact. So, even if I were to hide it, it wouldn’t work. The audience knows my real age.”
Explaining further, he said that earlier Hindi film hero was always shown as college-going guy but now that has changed and roles are being written for senior actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. So there is no need to hide one’s age.
“Besides, earlier a Hindi film hero was invariably shown as a college-going guy. Now, it is no longer the case, In fact, the meatier roles are written for people who are of a certain age. Thanks to this fact, a majority of us — the Khans (Salman, Aamir, Shah Rukh and Saif) and Akshay — don’t feel the need to hide how old we are. We’re at a time when the audience is fully aware of what our real ages are. So, who do we fool, if we pretend otherwise?”
On playing a 50-year-old onscreen in De De Pyaar De, Ajay said not only was it the requirement of this particular script, in general, he feels a bit “uncomfortable” playing 30 or 35 years old. He said, “Yes, it is very cool thing to be 50 whether in cinema or in life. In fact, I feel uncomfortable playing 30 or 35 years of age onscreen now. That’s a real effort.”
He added that as a 50-year-old, he doesn’t feel it as much because he is health-conscious. In fact, he went on to say that if one is careful with one’s food intake and exercise routine, then 50 can be the new 40 and, with a push, may even be the new 30. He said: “Coming back to the age factor, nowadays most people, related to film or other spheres are so health-conscious. Age is not an impediment at all. I can proclaim 50 is the new 40 or perhaps push a bit and say the new 30. You know of so many marathoners who are 50! Take me for example, I am so conscious of my food intake and exercise routine that I can still do what I did when I was younger. I would be lying if I said that sometimes the muscles and joints don’t get sore. They need a little pampering from time to time. But as far as exercise goes, I’m up for the toughest routine. I genuinely believe that if you look after yourself well, which is the prime duty of each one of us, then age sit fantastically well on a person.”
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First Published: May 06, 2019 12:28 IST