Govinda: 'In a sex comedy, hero doesn't crave for love!'

He's forty plus, naughty and feisty too. And what's better, Govinda Ahuja marks a return to cinema screens with Naughty@40 that showcases the 'Virar Wonder' as a 40 plus virgin NRI! Govinda, however, asserts that the Jagmohan Mundhra helmed flick is far from a sleazy sex comedy…

He's famed for being fashionably late. Within the environs of a plush hotel in suburban Mumbai, you're keenly awaiting an actor whose name is synonymous with being unpunctual. Govinda Ahuja, that is.

You've twiddled your thumbs till they ache, picked your nose a dozen times and are readying to pull out your hair by the tufts… when… the subject of your interview strides in… on the dot of the appointed hour?!!!

Ladies and gentlemen… and all those who've recovered now from this shock of punctuality… please put your hands together for the naughty 'Virar Wonder' who's shown up sporting a white shirt, denims and dark glasses (he's the 'star', remember?)! And naughty is the apt adjective since Govinda has strode in to grace a Press meet centred around Naughty@40, his new flick showcasing Yuvika Chaudhry and Sayali Bhagat.

The Jagmohan Mundhra helmed movie spotlights Govinda as a 40 plus NRI male, a virgin to boot, and is largely being touted largely as a "sex comedy", an issue that the actor begs to differ upon…

Excerpts from a chat with Govinda… punctuated by pregnant pauses…

You've lost 8 kilos for the lead role in 'Naughty@40'. How did you decide to get fit again?

I had to do quite a lot. I had gained a lot of weight. I was 108 kilos. From there, I've reached here today. I had to lose 28 kilos. Then when I started this film, the makers told me that the subject of this film is such that you don't need to reduce anymore. So I thought, 'This is not right'. But I had to do it. So I had to hold back a bit. The film is exactly like its name and you have to do a lot to appear in such a film. So that's what I've done.

What did you do? Yoga, joined a gym?

I've done so much I can't even begin to tell you. It's easy to gain weight, but while reducing you have to be very careful.

You play a 40 year old NRI who's a virgin in the film...

Yeah, my character's name is Happy, but he's never received any happiness and he's desperately looking for it. He doesn't get any love. People who receive love very easily are happy in life, but people who're still looking for love have to go through a lot, and this is what the makers have described in the film.

Do you think 'Naughty @ 40' is the right title? If you had the opportunity, what would you like to change it to?

I don't think so much about all these things. I do the work that has been given to me. When I started working on the film I'd never imagined that it would turn out to be like this. I had thought, 'Yes, I'm doing a good film.' Sometimes your new thoughts take a new shape. And you get to know and learn many new things. You try and try to succeed.

Usually all your film titles are well appreciated by the audiences; this time your film has an English title...

Yes, these days there is a trend of English titles. There was 'Sandwich', but that wasn't released in theatres. Quite a few of my films have had English titles. And even my songs have been like that. My dances are also never like dances. It seems like my character is saying what he has to say. It's like a scene basically, rather than a dance.

The movie is based on sex and comedy...

This is not a sex and comedy film. The hero is craving for love. If it was a sex and comedy film, why would he crave? He's asking for it.

How would you describe the experience of working on the film?

It was very new for me. And to come to this stage in my career and do a romantic film… I never felt like I was doing anything wrong. I thought, 'If I get to do such things as a hero, it's good.' News girls and all, good. It's very challenging for me.

This film has two heroines, Sayali Bhagat and Yuvika Chaudhry. What were their strong points?

Both of them are very good actors. Even Luchiya, the French actress has done a very good job. Yuvika has done very well. Whenever I met Sayali, she did her bit well. I feel that if a film is good, then everyone has an important role to play in it. How to sum up everything is in the hands of the director. Jagmohan Mundhra has done a very good job and I felt that he was the right choice. He has done very well. The film looks very international because of him.

Jagmohan Mundhra is well known in the international circuit. This is the first time you're working with him. What are his strong points as a director?

I'm not making comparisons, but Hrishida (Hrishikesh Mukherjee) and Basuda (Basu Chatterjee) used to say a lot in their films with great simplicity. In 'Naughty@40', they've said it with great simplicity that people crave for love and others don't understand it. They think that it's not normal. They have no sympathy towards such people. It's just that a guy wants love and even when he's craving for it, he's well behaved and acts within his limits. To show such a character well on screen is not an easy task. I think Jagmohan Mundhra has done it very well.

You've acted in so many comedies, and you're so natural every time. How do you manage to do that?

I don't know. I don't prepare too much like how other actors plan out stuff. I've only started listening to stories now. Many times I never even saw the film. Later I'd see it and think, 'Oh, that's why this film was a hit!' I was doing so many films at that point of time. God has been very kind to me that he has given me so many opportunities to do such good work. And I've been very lucky in terms of success. I've had so many hits and even the films that have not released in theatres are appreciated. When 'Sandwich' comes on TV, people ask, 'Where was this film? We've never seen it!' But I don't dwell on such things for too long. As an actor I just believe that you should do a good job with what you've been given.

There's a French actress in the film, Luchiya. Most people say that Hollywood is more professional. Do you think this is true?

It's true. If something is good, it's good irrespective of where it is.

After the 'Naughty@ 40' promo was out, the Mumbai territory was sold at a much higher price than expected. Did you expect the promo to be such a big hit?

No, all this has happened after the promo came out. A lot of talk has been generated by the promos. Before the promo, there was no talk about the film. I didn't know what to think, but the promo has been appreciated. Now the makers are in a good position to release the film.

There was a legal fight with producer Anuj Sharma and co producer Sandip Kapur. You only took the signing amount and did not take any more money for this film. Is that true?

Some people make a big deal even when you sneeze. I don't know much about it and I don't talk about what I don't know.

The film has been shot in London and other parts of U.K and in Kulu and Manali in India. What was the most difficult scene and what was the most memorable scene?

I believe that every film has its mood and the locale reflects this mood. If you choose the right location, your job becomes much easier. They have found good locations and good people. When we were shooting, it didn't even feel like we were working and this is always a good sign. Most of the times, the work that has been done in such a great atmosphere has never gone wrong.

Is there any underlying message in the film?

Yes, there is. There is no preaching. The makers have thought a lot and given a youthful mode to the film. The youth should take care of a few things and it's not hard to do this. You should be thankful for the love you get.

All your movies have an USP. Sometimes it's the dance, sometimes it's you. What is the USP of this film?

The best thing about the film is that it holds you. It starts off normally and people will keep laughing till the interval. But after the interval, the film takes a social turn and that is more enjoyable. Within his boundaries, the director has put forward a great thought. College going boys and girls will love it.

You've made your mark as an actor, gifted in comedy. According to you, what are the qualities needed to do so?

It's important for an actor to be at ease. And the audience should be able to remember all the characters they see. What usually happens is that we're so self involved that we don't see the world. It's important for the actor to understand the characters. In most of my films, my character is like that, based on someone I've seen. And very often they don't even know. I apologise for that to all those people.

You also took interest in the post production of the film. Is that true?

No no. I don't get involved in these things.

Are Salman Khan and you going to do cameos in your daughter's film 'Manchali'?

No, no.

You've worked in so many different types of films. As an actor, what kind of movies do you like?

I like all kinds of cinema. I believe that all creations are a result of great thought and study and you can learn a lot from them.