Interview with Uday Chopra

Interview : I've stopped running from myself

Uday Chopra returns post a sabbatical from acting, after a lot of self-introspection His last movie Dhoom: 2 released in 2006. After that, Uday Chopra was not heard of or seen. I was worried that he was turning into another Aditya Chopra but that fear turned out to be baseless. I met Uday at YRF studios and was impressed with his candour. The scars of failure have healed and Uday is radiant with newfound confidence. Read on as he talks about battling depression, facing insecurities, soul searching and his relationship with Tanishaa. And about his production Pyaar Impossible with Priyanka Chopra where he returns as an actor. Excerpts from an Interview: Why have you been living under a rock for the last three years? I was taking a sabbatical from acting and figuring out where my future is. Sitting behind, learning from my father and brother, being a part of meetings, etc. Actually, I have been working with Yash Raj. I have been looking after the digital division, the new media department, as I have an aptitude for that. I believed that we should have our music, not just in iTunes, but on various other platforms too Was it a conscious effort to take a break? Well, you could say that. But in a big way, it was because I wasn't happy with the kind of work I was getting. I believed that if I am not satisfied with what I am offered, I (touchwood) have the liberty to take my time and decide what else can I do. My sensibilities were different from the comedies that were being offered to me after Dhoom. I love comedies, I have grown up watching sitcoms, I love those witty one-liners and situations you create, but I am not much of a slapstick guy. How has the break changed you as a person? It's definitely humbled me a lot; not that I was overtly over confident. You come with stars in your eyes, thinking everything will work out, then you realise it's not the way you think it is. So you keep trying different things to figure out where you fit in and then insecurities arise.  That's what I went through during 2005-06, and I had to tell myself to stop. Having gone through that, I think I have come out of my insecurities, I understand who I am and how people perceive me, and I don't have a problem with it anymore. Earlier what people thought of me would affect me; today, it doesn't. Somewhere along the way, I have grown to accept that, and it has helped me for the better. Was there pressure because you are Yash Chopra's son and your brother is already an established director? It's not so much pressure because I have grown up in this atmosphere and I am used to this. But when everyone's focus is on you then you don't really do things for your self-satisfaction; you do it because of what dad will think, or what other people think. So that's the problem of being Yash Chopra's son, or being part of Yash Raj films. I think if you are running, then you have to run for the love of it, not because someone is chasing you. I have stopped running from myself. What was the flashpoint that made you give up the sabbatical? I think the debacle of my film Neal 'N' Nikki put me into a shell. That was the beginning, and it wasn't a nice period in my life. I had gone into a depression-like stage, but what came out of it was a lot of soul-searching and trying to understand things. At one point, my love and desire for being an actor was being questioned, so all those thoughts of maybe God has a different plan for me, was what made me look within me. Did you approach your dad or brother during the low phase? Not really, because I had gone into a shell, so I didn't speak to anybody. I am pretty much a loner. But over a period of time when things weren't really going anywhere, I had a talk with my brother and he said invest in yourself if nothing else. He asked me why I didn't try writing. And that's when the thought came to me that I should write something. Is that how Pyaar Impossible came into being? I had this idea for a long time, in fact this is the film I wanted to make instead of Neal 'N' Nikki. So now when I went back to it, I made it more contemporary and modern. I saw myself in the role as the guy, and decided to not just act but also produce it. Jugal Hansraj my friend was making Roadside Romeo and I asked him direct and he agreed. Then we met Priyanka and she said yes to it . Isn't there a director lurking inside of you? I will definitely want to direct some day, but at this point there are too many things am doing. I don't want to write, produce, act and then direct as well. I want somebody to tell me where I am going wrong. Right now, I am at that stage where I need guidance, once I develop it on my own then I will be ready to direct. Is the film semi-autobiographical? Not really. Except for the part that the guy is shy and reticent which comes from me, and he's also very much into technology, which is a big part of me. Why have producers outside YRF not shown an interest in you? I have interest in working outside Yash Raj, but people have certain perceptions about me. It's the reason why I say no to most films. How do you react to the criticism Yash Raj is getting for their films not doing well... I think people are saying our films aren't doing well because some of them haven't done well. Also we gave consecutive hit films for two years. There will be some hits and some misses and once people get that, the criticism will stop. Who are you closer to your father or brother? I am close to both of them in different ways. I am close to my brother, because we share a different equation. But I also am close to my dad. We sit and have conversations which he will never have with other people. Dad is more like a friend. We talk like equals and that's great.. Why are you still single? I am single, because I haven't found anybody. I don't want to be single. Are you doing anything about it? No. I believe in destiny and she will come when the time is right. I know it will happen... the one woman I will go mad about. I still haven't found her and that she's out there. I don't know when it will happen, but till then, I am happy to be single. Are you romantic at heart? Yes, I am a hardcore romantic guy, but I don't do anything about it, which is why I am still single. I don't want to have casual relationships. I would love to be like that, but I am not that kind. I'd love to be someone who would chat up with a girl, go out on a few dates and say 'Sorry, babes'. My first thought is always that I don't want a relationship, I don't want commitment. But then slowly you realise that it's nice to be in love. Weren't you dating Tanishaa in the past? Yes, and I have mentioned that before. My relationships have been few and far between. We are friends, there's no bad blood. In fact, she called the other day and wished me all the best for the film that I am starting it in a month. We are very much in touch. Are you open to dating actresses from the industry? Of course. I think an actresses would understand me better because we are from the same line. Actresses are really interesting. They have lots of mood swings, there's so much fun that can be had with their brains. They have a lot of convolutions in their head and other insecurities and a lot of drama. So if you like that, you can actually have fun and go crazy.  Normal people don't have that! Three directors you would love to work with I would love to work with Shimit (Amin), Mani Ratnam and Ashutosh Gowariker for their style and technique. Three leading ladies who would look good with you Sonam, because she's gorgeous and has something unique about herself. Deepika, again because she's drop-dead gorgeous. And Konkona, because she's a fantastic actress. Courtesy by: Midday