Jugal HANSRAJ Interview

 

How was it facing the camera at the age of nine? Did you always consider acting as your career option? Though Papa Kehte Hai bombed, it made you a youth icon. After Papa Kehte Hain in 1996, your next big r

‘I WANT TO ACT AGAIN’ 

ACTOR JUGAL HANSRAJ SAYS THAT HE IS A
BUSINESS PROPOSITION FOR DIRECTORS AND
THAT THEY WOULD SIGN HIM ONLY IF THEY SAW
PROFIT IN HIM

PEOPLE WILL CHASE ME IF I DELIVER A HIT. IF MY FILM DOES NOT DO WELL, THEY WILL LOOK THROUGH ME EVEN IF I SAY HELLO. THERE ARE NO REGRETS AS I HAVE WORKED WITH ALL THE PEOPLE I WANTED TO WORK WITH, BE IT DHARAMJI, SHEKHAR KAPUR, SRK. TO KEEP MYSELF FIT, I SWIM AND WALK. I DON’T SMOKE OR ABUSE MY BODY WITH ANY SUBSTANCE. I CAME CLOSE TO GETTING MARRIED TO SOMEONE IN 2009, BUT THEN I FAILED.

JUGAL: I first faced the camera even before that; it was one week before my second birthday. I did various print ad campaigns and TV commercials. After that I got into films and did Masoom when I was nine and did 5-6 more films out of which four were with Dharamji.
JUGAL: I was not sure at all. I just enjoyed being on set. When I was 14, I stopped doing films and completely concentrated on my studies. After completing school and college I again started getting offers. I did two or three films before Papa Kehte Hain (1996) though my first release was in 1994, Aa Gale Lag Jaa.
JUGAL: I could not believe back then that I am associated with a movie with such wonderful songs in it. People still talk about the music. I used to go jogging at Joggers Park in Bandra and there used to be this group of girls who used to sing ‘Ghar se nikalte hi’ loudly so I just had to stop going there, as it was quite embarrassing. I did feel awkward with all that limelight, but the film indeed made me popular.
JUGAL: I continued doing and signing films, but unfortunately a number of them got stalled. Mohabbatein was a big break again. But then, I was also tired of doing the shy boy roles. So I did a couple of character parts, but was not convinced and therefore started writing and went behind the camera.

JUGAL: Writing and direction. I worked on my first directorial debut Roadside Romeo (2008) which was an animation film. It took six months of writing and three years to complete. Then I directed Pyaar Impossible (2010). So I got a little out of the acting scene, but want to act again, as and when I get an opportunity.
JUGAL: For the last couple of years, I was busy writing, so I have three-four scripts ready. The painful truth is that scripts don’t pay you by the time you go and sell them. So now I will send my script to the directors. And I am in touch with studios to direct movies for them.
JUGAL: I don’t like to use my contacts for work. Karan (Johar) and I have known each other since I was 14 but I would like to keep my personal rapport with them separate.
JUGAL: There is cut throat competition. I am like a business proposition to them. If they don’t see profit in me casting me, they won’t sign me.

 

FACT FILE

Jugal Hansraj
NAME 40
AGE 10 MOVIES DONE 2000 ACTED TILL
KNOWN FOR Masoom, Papa Kehte Hai,

Mohabbatein
CURRENT PROFILE
Writer and director
FILMS DIRECTED Roadside Romeo (2008) and
Pyaar Impossible (2010)

INDUSTRY SPEAK

Jugal has always been a great student since he was a teenager, and worked with me in Karma

(1986). I used to see him observe everything minutely on the sets and take keen interest in the entire process of film-making. And that explains his interest in writing and direction. He will hopefully do a great job of it. It was hard being nasty to a child who looked as masoom (innocent) as Jugal. It broke my heart when I saw him withdraw in fright when I turned to him and said ‘main mummy nahi hun tumahri’. Masoom (1983) would not have worked if it had any other child. Shekhar (Kapur) handled all the kids really well.