Aftab with Esha in Ankahee

He’s shooting for Red...and Aftab Shivdasani is unrecognisable. “I’ve cut my long hair. My last long-haired film would be Vikram’s Ankahee. Red onwards I sport Brad Pitt’s look from Mr & Mrs Smith. I guess we all need a change. And I’m ready for one? I think I’ve finally come to terms with myself as an actor.”

Aftab rates his performance in Pritish Nandy Communications’ Ankahee as one of his three best. “Along with Vikram Bhatt’s Kasoor and Anupam Sinha’s Shukriya. These three films helped me to evolve?My bonding with Vikram stretches through eight films. That includes the guest appearance in Deewane Huye Paagal and the shelved Tujhko Meri Kasam. And there’s one more film that Vikram and I are doing together for T-Series.”

He gets nostalgic about Tujhko Meri Kasam with Rani Mukherjee. “You know, it’d have been my first period film and my biggest film to date. It was like Titanic on a train. I’m hopeful Vikram and I will revive that project.”

Right now Aftab is excited about the release of Ankahee soon, where he plays his buddy Vikram Bhatt. “It was a big responsibility. To play fictional characters is one thing. But to play a close friend is a big responsibility. And on top of it all, Vikram is dedicating Ankahee to his daughter. The film is an apology letter to the child. I just couldn’t goof up. I got so involved with my character. I broke down and cried during one of the scenes.”

In June there’s Ram Gopal Varma’s Darwaza Bandh Rakho. “This one is a black comedy about four guys and a hostage played by Isha. Apparently it may resemble Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. But that’s only because of the hostage situation. In that film I had loads of comic scenes. The beauty of Darwaza Bandh Rakho is that I don’t do anything funny. All the characters are dead serious. Audiences will find them funny.”

Aftab feels there’s a change within him as an actor. “I know there was a lull in between when I deliberately chose to stay away from films and the limelight. I wasn’t happy with the kind of work I was getting and I wasn’t willing to do just anything that came my way. So I withdrew into myself. As it is I’m a very low-key person. I don’t like to socialise or say namaste to producers in the hope of getting roles. I feel whatever work has to come my way, will do so.”

The period of silence ended when Aftab was offered Ankahee by Vikram Bhatt. “That film and Red has made all the difference to me. Red is dark and passionate. It reminds me of the work that Vikram did with me in Kasoor. He made me play a much older man than any actual age.”

Now Aftab’s all of 27 and still single. “No marriage for another two years. After that I’ll grandly announce the name of the bride. Everyone is cordially invited.” Aftab has been facing the camera from the time he was a baby when he modelled for a baby food. “I don’t feel jaded. I feel as if I’m starting out now.”