In Pics: Dev takes horse riding lessons!

Poet Ronald Duncan, in his Ode to the Horse, said horses have nobility without pride, friendship without envy and beauty without vanity. Tolly heartthrob Dev echoed the same words when we caught up with him for a candid chat in between a horse-riding session at Tollygunge Club.
Excerpts:
When did you start learning horse riding?
In 2008, I was in Mumbai when the Imran Khan-starrer Jaane Tu���Ya Jaane Na, was being shot.There was a horse-riding sequence in the film. Imran had fixed training hours, but he would come an hour late and leave 30 minutes early. Fight master Abbas, who was my friend, helped me train with the horse in that time. I was always interested in horse riding, but started learning the sport from Mountain Police during the shoot of Chander Pahar. But after wrapping up the film, I had to discontinue the training because of my crazy schedule. Again when I got associated with Tollygunge Club, to my utter delight, they opened their horse-riding facilities for me.

How long have you been coming to the club to learn horse riding?
Near about eight months. The club is close to my house and whenever I get time, I come here...
Tell us about your experiences of learning this sport.
I���m training under Col Shailendra Singh and the experience has been very gratifying. Horses are extremely loyal. During Chander Pahar, when I fell off my horse and got injured, the animal didn���t run away. Horses never attack anyone. When you talk to them, they respond. Also, I think kids should show as much interest in this sport as in cricket. Children, I feel, can easily relate to horses.
Does it help you keep fit?
You can compare horse riding with an intense workout session. It keeps you fit and engages your mind, body and soul, while reducing stress. When I have kids, I will definitely make them learn horse riding.

Coming back to films, you seem to have left your Pagludays way behind...
I believe an actor should always challenge himself and do roles that are different. That���s why I have done Bindaas, Paglu, Chander Pahar and Buno Haansh simultaneously. I���m also kicked about Kamaleswar Mukherjee���s Mahabharat, where I play Arjun. Aparna Sen���s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and my film with Mithunda (Chakraborty), Koel and Sayantika are also in the pipeline. I���m trying to cater to all kinds of audiences. Rituparno Ghosh was the first one to think of me in a hatke role. The film didn���t happen, but he showed me the right path. It���s good that I���m not being typecast anymore. There are all types of directors here and everyone wants to make a film with me.
Durga Puja is just around the corner. Are you done with shopping?
My shopping list includes gifts for ma, baba and bon. I don���t have time to buy anything for myself and nobody buys me anything (laughs).
Doesn���t CM Mamata Banerjee figure on that list?
Didi doesn���t take gifts from anybody. But she loves to give. If she likes you, she���s a completely different person. I believe in politics for the people and she has encouraged me to do it in a constructive way.