INTERVIEW: Ajay Devgn On Runway 34, Pan India Movies And Brand Endorsement Controversy

Q.
Apart
from
acting,
you
are
also
associated
with
this
film
as
a
producer
and
director.
What
attracted
you
to
the
story?

A.
I
found
this
script
very
interesting
and
strong.
While
working
on
such
a
script,
you
become
so
involved
in
it
that
you
start
seeing
it
in
your
mind.
From
the
very
beginning,
I
was
sure
about
directing
it.
The
second
reason
was
that
I
like
to
do
films
that
are
challenging,
the
story
of
this
film
was
very
strong.
In

Shivaay
also,
the
kind
of
action
and
camerawork
on
the
mountains
was
done,
it
was
something
that
had
never
been
tried
before.
Here
also
the
drama
that
needed
to
be
created
in
the
cockpit
was
not
very
easy
to
do,
you
can’t
do
it
in
a
regular
way,
so
I
had
to
create
a
lot
of
things
technically
also
to
create
drama.

Q.
How
easy
or
difficult
is
it
to
play
both
the
roles
together-
an
actor
and
director?

A.
At
such
times
the
actor
in
me
has
to
take
a
backseat
on
the
sets
because
at
that
time
I
am
the
director,
who
is
directing
the
actor.
But
when
you
come
in
front
of
the
camera,
as
an
actor,
you
have
to
forget
everything
else
and
get
immersed
in
the
character.
It’s
a
lot
of
hard
work.
But
if
your
planning
is
good
and
you
are
clear
in
your
thoughts
then
all
is
well.

Q.
How
was
the
experience
of
working
with
Amitabh
Bachchan?
You
are
directing
him
for
the
first
time.

A.
It
is
like
a
dream
come
true.
The
kind
of
performance,
the
kind
of
dedication
he
gives..
is
inspirational.
He
dedicates
himself
completely
to
the
director.
He
is
a
director’s
actor.
He
is
a
legend.
Also,
I
have
known
him
since
childhood,
so
we
share
a
great
rapport.
We
keep
in
constant
touch
so
it
doesn’t
feel
like
working
together
after
so
many
years.

Q.
After
spending
three
decades
in
the
film
industry,
how
do
you
see
stardom
or
heroism
today?

A.
Heroism
is
all
about
confidence.
How
you
carry
yourself
is
important.
As
far
as
stardom
is
concerned,
I
believe
only
in
hard
work.
I
think
you
should
work
hard,
love
your
work
and
stay
true
to
the
work.
Leave
the
rest
to
luck
because
stardom
is
not
in
your
hands.
What
is
in
your
hands
is
only
hard
work.

Q.
As
there
is
a
craze
about
Pan
India
films
nowadays,
as
a
producer-
director
do
you
have
any
plans
to
make
a
Pan
India
film?

A.
Pan
India
films
are
not
made,
they
just
become.
If
you
see

RRR
itself,
then
it
became
Pan
India
because
it
was
Rajamouli’s
film.
After

Baahubali,
he
could
have
come
up
with
something
like
this.
But

Baahubali
was
not
planned
like
a
pan
India
film.
It
became
successful
first
and
then
got
promoted
Pan
India.
Just
like
the
first
part
of

KGF
was
not
a
Pan
India
film,
but
when
that
film
became
successful,
the
second
part
was
promoted
as
a
Pan
India
film.
For
me,
films
are
not
from
South
or
North..
story
is
important
which
connects
with
the
audience.
If
people
are
liking
the
story,
then
the
film
earns,
no
matter
from
where
it
is.

Q.
Actors
often
face
criticism
for
the
products
they
choose
to
endorse,
including
you.
What
would
you
like
to
say
on
this?

A.
It
is
a
personal
choice.
When
you
do
something,
you
also
see
how
harmful
it
would
be.
Some
are
harmful,
some
are
not.
I
will
say
without
naming
it
as
I
do
not
want
to
promote
it;
that
I
am
doing

Elaichi.
And
what
I
feel
is
more
than
advertisements,
if
certain
things
are
so
wrong,
then
they
shouldn’t
be
sold
at
all.