Actor Ajay Devgn is diversifying from acting and film production to film distribution in a big way. He was in town to promote a theatre chain in the name of his children Nyasa and Yug - NY Cinemas - at par with brands like PVR and Cinepolis among others.
Walking with his leading ladies Tabu, and Rakul Preet Singh for his new release of De De Pyar De, which received much praise at the box office, the actor is eying to capture the vast distribution network across India.
Ajay recalls it started with the concept of giving a good theatre experience to people who do not have theatres in their areas.
“We wondered how to make movie viewing more affordable, and a comfortable, feel-at-home experience. We are moving to pan India now.” He says.
Talking about the USP of his new project he says, “People come to the theatre to have a different experience. For some it is like — Oh! this is our place to hang out. As kids we had this kind of place for hangouts…Woh hota hain na nukkad pe pan ki dukan hai, aur do ghante miltey hain shaam ko toh chalo wahaan jaake baithtey hain. (Like there’s a paan shop at the corner and whenever we friends meet we go there and sit and chat). It is that kind of experience we wish to deliver to our audience. It is not just a movie theatre but the experience matters, which makes you feel — koi bhi film ho wahaan jane mein maza ata hain (for any movie let’s just go to NY Cinemas for the best experience).
While Ajay goes candid about how different the movie De De Pyaar De is from others, this is not the first time people are experiencing a edgy storyline, where the lead character falls in love with a person, half his age. We have seen similar storylines in Cheeni Kum and Nishabd earlier. In the movie De De Pyaar De a 50-year-old single father (played by Ajay Devgn) faces disapproval from his family and his ex-wife when he falls in love with a 26-year-old woman.
“It is very different from the rest of the movies as it touches a lot of things. It’s a family drama. It is all about how comfortable you are with somebody and don’t have the problem to be with the person who is half your age. So why is that everybody else is
judging?
I agree, that some people have the right to judge like one’s family but are they always right?”
Ajay explains, adding, “In a humorous way, the film touches a lot of things. There are very strong women characters, and they hold their ground with maturity.”
On asking how was his experience in working with Tabu after so many years, Ajay explains “It's not about work experience anymore at all. I mean we have been friends since college. So it is not a working relationship at all. It has never changed.”
On being asked if he has any plans on working in web series, Ajay says, “We are working on some. And as an actor the moment I find something which is interesting for me, I will definitely do it.”
Ajay Devgn says he loves every part of filmmaking. His journey has experienced every part of the industry from acting to film making, to producing and now into pan-India distribution, just adds more muscles and power to his projects.
