Shiney’s X-factor

WITH MEMORABLE performances in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and Gangster, the actor says that he loves to get into the skin of the character and this reflects in his choice of films.

On his character in Hijack I play the role of an engineer, Vikram, who is an easy going person and loves chilling out with his daughter. But on a fateful day one of his friends informs him that the plane in which his daughter was flying has been hijacked but it is landing in the same airport in which he works. And so the father tries to do everything he can to save his daughter.

Though I am the protagonist of the film, the film doesn’t revolve only around me, it is a story of relationships between people.

On being typecast in serious roles: I’m in the industry for the past two and half years and if you start associating me with any one character then it would be wrong. You see, Amitabh Bachchan is still known as the angry young man but the number of comedy films he has done, is a sort of a record in the film industry. We like to typecast actors at the first possible chance. Since I always love to get into the skin of the character, it reflects in my choice of films. So if I don’t find interesting comic roles then why should I go for it? On his favourite co-star: If you have three wives then it’s tough to say which one is the best (laughs). I always fall in love with the actress with whom I’m working, at least till the film completes.

But yes, among all the actresses I have worked with, working with my first heroine Chitrangada Singh is by far the best experience I’ve had.

On the X-factor: I belong to a middle-class family and always believed in talent. But after moving to Mumbai I did realise that only talent isn’t enough.

There are thousands of people trying their luck in Bollywood, and most of them have some talent or the other. To survive in that industry, one does need something other than just talent, that’s your X-factor.

On getting back to modelling: I would definitely love to give it a shot if I get some good endorsement offers. I started my career from modelling and love doing it.

On his dream role: There are many. Well, let me put it like this — hazaaron khwaishein aisi, ke har khwaish pe dam nikale. But yes, though I have not got my dream role yet, but my role in Gangster, which brought me face to face with stardom is closest to my heart.

On his upcoming projects: After this film releases in the first week of September, I have Har Pal releasing, here I have worked with Preity Zinta. It’s a comedy flick, the first in my career. In fact, I have always wanted to do comedy films, because for any actor, making someone else laugh is a challenge.