Star Interviews

Q: Though Kandukondain Kandukondain was released in Hindi with English subtitles and then there was this phenomenal success of the music album Yeh Hai Prem, you really took your time to give the nod to an Hindi film? And now it is finally Ansh. What was it that convinced you about Ansh?

Abbas: The Hindi music album Yeh Hai Prem made waves all over India & overseas it gave me amazing recognition followed by Kandukondain Kandukondain released in Hindi with English subtitles doing well. I had quite a few offers for Hindi films but somehow it didn't materialize. Better late than never. Ansh happened to me when I was doing a film down south where the director came and narrated the script, it was not a typical commercial launch pad for my first film in hindi but it had a sound script. I was moved by quite a few scenes in the script which wanted me to do the film. They are hard hitting and speak the truth that one rarely gets to see nowadays. Wait and see…

Q: With the promotions of Ansh going on the media, the amazing trailers on television and those romantic stills with Sabitha Mukherjee we get the hint that the genre of the film should be in the lines of a romantic-action film? What is the balance? What should we be expecting more action or romance?

Abbas: Many have liked the promos on air; I know they will like the film when it is out in the cinema halls. The movie is about the not so good side of life with a lot of action in it, not in terms of blowing up cars & unwanted gunfights but about reality of a simple person who succumbs to giving in to the gangster's paradise as we call it. It has in it romance too. All I would say is that one should not form an opinion about it before seeing it or trying to compare it. It's an effort to make a good film & I hope it is appreciated.

Q: So far you have done lover boy playful kind of roles and now you are making your transition into action roles with Ansh? How is your transition being justified here? Would there be any gravity defying Jet-Li moves?

Abbas: In my movies earlier I have played mostly light hearted lover boy kind of roles none this serious. The director suggested that I wear a beard as to make my look more intense in the film where it is required. There now you get to see a different abbas but not to worry there are other movies which more on the lighter side and for the college going crowd they will love it can't speak about it not so soon…later.

Q: In an earlier interview you had said "The beauty of the whole script is the intermingling of actors with diverse but unambiguously defined characters". What is the role you play in Ansh?

Abbas: Yes I believe that if in a film you have a good rapport with your co-artiste's it help's a lot in improvising with one another as the bonding shows on the screen, which is good for the film, any film. My role in the film is about a simple guy from out of town who gets caught up in a fix to get out of it, what measures he takes to safe guard his loved ones and up to what limit one could go.

Q: Taking up this role, is it your subtle attempt to break the cute bubbly lover mould you have been cast into? Or is it you are going for the new place, new role and new mould attempt there?

Abbas: No there is no attempt to break my image of acute bubbly lover as I am getting more of the youthful films offered. This too is a good script and I would do anything to live my character in the script if it demands me to look different why not.

Q: How was it working with Ashutosh Rana, Om Puri, Sabitha Mukherjee and director Rahan Johri?

Abbas: It was a wonderful experience working with such fine artistes. There were good moments we all shared and enjoyed a healthy working atmosphere. Rajan Johri is very good in conceiving such a wonderful script. It was fun working with him especially in the emotional scenes that we did.

Q: It is a known fact that the work cultures of Bollywood and down South are quite different? So how do you manage to adjust your assignments with the leisurely work style of Bollywood to the rigid film schedule of Telugu and Tamil films?

Abbas: Work cultures differ from north to south no doubt but like every marriage / relation has adjustments the same way I adjust whereever I am, no problem in that area so far.

Q: You are gifted with a blend of looks that goes well with North and South Indian Film Industry? You find that to your advantage?

Abbas: My big break through came with my first film in Tamil being a super hit where people took a liking to me being clean shaven & having Northern features in a movie down south & my music album did well for me people up north and people in Mumbai took a liking to me, I guess it's working in my advantage

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