The trailers of Cabaret are creating a buzz, especially for Gulshan Devaiah and Richa Chadda’s passionate kissing sequence. After hitting the headlines with Shaitaan, Hate Story 2 and Hunterrr, Gulshan Devaiyah talks about doing intimate sequences, the turning point in his career and being slotted as a serial kisser.
Has Hunterrr proved to be the turning point in your career?
Interesting question! I have definitely benefitted a lot from Hunterrr. Before that film, my roles were more on the negative-aggressive side. Hunterrr changed the perspective because I did a comic role and people accepted both the film as well as me. I would like to thank all my fans, and also those who are not my fans but will be my fans soon.
How different is your character in Cabaret from your past releases?
In all my films till now, I have played comic, negative and aggressive roles. But in this film, I am playing the proper good guy who’s troubled and an alcoholic. I play Gaurav Garewal, a promising investigative journalist whose life spirals downwards. At this point, he happens to meet Roza (Richa Chaddha), a very famous dancer and the two fall in love. There is a thriller aspect to the film surrounding her life and Gaurav gets a purpose in his life as he tries to solve the mystery.
The kissing scene with Richa Chaddha is very passionate … were you comfortable enacting it?
I am comfortable if the actor who is working with me is comfortable. It’s really important to trust each other. You take care of your co-actor while doing these scenes or else they won’t commit to it; and if they don’t, the illusion shatters and the audience feels it’s fake. When you do intimate scenes, you have to give so many takes that after a while it becomes boring and technical. But many people think that it’s fun. Someone asked me, you must have had good fun in Hunterrr? But it’s not fun, it’s our work. Film-making is a craft.
Since you are married, does it take a toll on your relationship?
Not at all! My wife knows that it’s my job, besides she is also an actor. I think if you are insecure in your relationship then such things may become an issue. We share a bond of trust.
Would you like to take the serial kisser tag from Emraan Hashmi?
He can have it, that’s fine. I don’t want it. I am not trying to steal any sort of tags from anybody. But if people want to call me that, it’s cool. He is a very well established star and if I am being compared to him, I really don’t mind. As long as I know who I am and don’t get lost in these comparisons, it’s fine with me.