Sunny Deol: Today, actors are modelling rather than acting

'A lot of people mistake acting for getting the look right. I am not that kind of person.'

'I have always played simple characters and portrayed myself like that. I have never followed my contemporaries; I just follow the film and its subject.'

Sunny Deol talks about his no-nonsense approach to acting.

We don’t get to see Sunny Deol on the big screen as often as we’d like.

This Friday, the action hero will be seen in the suitably titled Dishkiyaoon, co-starring Harman Baweja and Ayesha Khanna. The film has been produced by Shilpa Shetty.

In a brief chat, Deol tells us why he likes to play simple characters, why he has no political ambitions and his advice to his young sons, who are planning to be actors. Sonil Dedhia listens in. 

You have worked with Harman Baweja’s director father, Harry Baweja, in the past and may have seen Harman grow up. Do you feel paternal or protective towards these youngsters? 

When you work with the newer lot, much depends on how they behave with you.

If they have an attitude, you wish them good luck and move on.

If they want to learn from you, then you help them. But sometimes they may not like it and take your advice as interference. So it depends...

But Harman has been very nice. He is great in Dishkiyaoon. I am sure people will love him in the film.

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You have always been media shy, but in the last couple of years you have become media savvy. Has that change of approach worked for you?

There’s no way to monitor that. Yes, promotions help me connect with the young generation, who haven’t seen my previous work and might not know me as an actor.

They get to know about my movie releases and if they like it then they will say good things about me and appreciate my work.

You rarely experiment with your looks in a film…

A lot of people mistake acting for getting the look right.

I am not that kind of person.

I have always played simple characters and portrayed myself like that. I have never followed my contemporaries; I just follow the film and its subject.

If there’s something which is different and needs a lot of appearance change, then definitely (I will do it).

Actors did not attempt to change their looks earlier because they had a certain image. But today it’s a trend so everybody is experimenting.

You recently lent support to (former Mumbai police commissioner) Satyapal Singh, who has joined the BJP. What made you associate yourself with the campaign? Do you plan to join politics?

I don’t have any political ambitions.

I am very much an actor and I only want to do this.

As for Satyapalji, he has been a commissioner of our city and has done a lot of good things.

He left everything to join politics, which is good because we need such positive people, who will go out and do the needful for the country.

Your sons Karan and Rajvir are planning to get into films. Do you advise them on their career?

I don’t advise them about acting, but about general stuff like be good, honest, don’t hurt anybody. The regular father stuff.

I am doing what my father did. It’s a family of cinema. My father started working in films and later on, my brother (Bobby Deol) and I came in.

Now my sons are following in our footsteps. I hope they do well.

I don’t push them for anything because until you make mistakes, you don’t learn. We learnt the same way.

I disapprove of the current tendency to focus on your body etc. For me, that is not acting.

A lot of actors today are modelling rather than acting.

Is there any actor in recent times that has impressed you?

I’ve not seen much but definitely Chintu’s (Rishi Kapoor) son (Ranbir Kapoor) has been very promising.

What is the status of Ghayal 2?

I am directing it, but I will not talk about it just yet.

That’s the only film I am working on right now, so it has to happen quickly because I don’t want to sit down for too long. I will talk more on it once I am ready.