Entertainment is a recession-free business: Jeet

Is Jeet, one of the biggest matinee stars, also Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? For there are those that swear by his honesty and faith ��� junior actors, technicians, old para friends. And then there are those who can���t abide by him ��� producers who call him uncompromising, directors who find him stand-offish and arrogant. To settle the question once and for all, we asked Jeet about this.The answer he gave us was quite simple ��� ���Acting is my life, but I have a life beyond that too.��� And that set the ball rolling for a frank chat, where the star of Abhimaan spoke about friends and family, Srijit and Raj, ups and downs in his career. There is pride in his work, yes, but there is also humility in the realisation that he is one man among many who have kept this industry ticking over the years. Excerpts:
The title of your Puja release is Abhimaan, which seems pretty apt, since Jeet seems to harbour a lot of abhimaan towards a lot of people ��� producers, co-actors, directors, journalists. It���s said that Jeet never forgets if someone offends him.
(Laughs out loud) First of all, I must clarify that I don���t have abhimaan towards anyone! If someone feels that for me, they can meet me. We can sit, talk and clear it out. People love to say Jeet er anek abhimaan ache! But that���s not true in real life. In fact, my character in the film tries to address the abhimaan people have for each other, as it only destroys relationships. So, the message conveyed through the film is that abhimaan and ego have to be set aside so that there can be peace and love. I don���t believe in letting my ego take over, though all of us have that pride in us in some form or other. As for remembering things, what can I do if I have an elephant���s memory? That���s me!
There are two Jeets we hear about from people. Your juniors and technicians swear by you and look up to you. And then, there are those who speak of the other Jeet, who is uncompromising, inflexible and arrogant.
That���s the way I am. I���m a thorough professional at work, but I also believe in togetherness. Believe me, I have friends in my para with whom I���ve been close for 35 years. Ask them, or my family, how I value relationships.

So then Jeet the star is different from Jeet the friend, son, husband, brother?
Movies are an important part of my life but my life is also beyond that. I too have responsibilities towards my family, friends and society. I don���t limit myself to work. In these past 15 years, I too have made mistakes and I constantly try to learn from them and rectify myself. I consciously stay away from negativity.
But in Tollywood, as in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies. Since you value friendship so highly, have you made any friends in the industry?
There is politics everywhere. You can���t make friends overnight as it takes time to build a relationship. So, I would say that I have fantastic colleagues in this industry.
Tollywood has a few power centres in terms of production houses.
Do you stay neutral and maintain equal distance from everyone as you don���t want to associate with any one entity?
The way I see it, the industry was there, is there now and will be there too. We should feel blessed that we are part of it at a particular time and place. Nobody will be here forever.
We will do our bit and there will be others who will take our place��� the industry will remain forever. (Pauses) As an industry boy and a Kolkata boy, I will be happy if I can offer my services to the industry and beyond that too, as I don���t limit myself only to acting.
There are so many ups and downs in the career of an actor. Are you a spiritual person?
Yes��� I am. I believe in God and visit temples regularly. I wake up with prayers for everyone���s good health and happiness. Like everyone else, I too have negative thoughts, but I try to turn them into positivity and my spirituality helps me do that.
But this spiritual person is the same Jeet who doesn���t compromise on remuneration or screen space, right?
Please tell me who says these things about me. Let me tell you that this is the same Jeet who has not sat down to discuss remuneration with some producers for the past decade! And why? Because of the relationship I share with them. As for screen time, remember that I did Royal Bengal Tiger, where I was there for just 30 minutes. It���s only when I started to realise my value and how some producers were not giving it due importance that I started asking for my right value. Other producers are ready to pay, so why shouldn���t I ask for my right value?
It is ironical that Abhimaan and Zulfiqar are releasing at the same time. You had been offered a role in Srijit���s film, which would have meant Prosenjit, Jeet and Dev in the same project. But you turned it down.
I didn���t even know about the rest of the cast when Srijit narrated the script to me. I agreed to the ensemble cast too. (After a pause) This time it didn���t happen, but both Srijit and I want to work with each other, and I am sure it will happen in the future.
Do you regret not doing Zulfiqar?
Last year I had only one release and the exhibitors said I should do more films. So this year I wanted three releases, one of which should be in Puja. I���m happy that my wish got fulfilled. And I don���t look back in life and regret.
After from the issue over remuneration, did you also demand that the film should be showcased as ���Jeet in and as Zulfiqar���?
There was a discussion on this, but please remember that at that time, I did not know who the rest of the cast members were. But yes, Badshah ��� The Don was shown as ���Jeet as Badshah ��� The Don���. So my films have got presented like that earlier too.
What is your reading of our industry, as commercial films are hardly working at the box office?
But Badshah ��� The Don did really well. On the tenth week, too, it did good business, which was good for the producers. It was an India-Bangladesh project and did well in that country too. See, I don���t want to sound like a pundit but entertainment is a recession-free business. We just need thoughtful minds to come together and produce meaningful content, which will drive the audience to the theatres. That apart, more investors and actors should join this industry. When I joined this profession, the Marathi industry did less business but today see where they are. They get so much government help and I feel here too we need that. Mandatory regional shows on prime time should be implemented in multiplexes. That apart, we also need more theatres.
We don���t see you promoting your own films. For your last release, Power, you didn���t turn up for the close-door premiere. Will you come for Abhimaan?
I normally don���t go to premeires. And for Abhimaan too I am not sure whether I will be there. I might, but I will hardly meet anyone.

Six films are releasing this Puja. Is it a healthy sign for the industry?
There are two ways to look at this. Durga Puja is a festive season when people are in a good mood and are ready to spend, eat and watch films. So that���s the good part. On the other hand, we don���t have enough number of halls for each film to get good shows. So, it is a Catch 22 situation. Let���s wait and watch. I believe films, which have good content, will be appreciated and will do good business. But we together can programme things in a better way. I have tried earlier to negotiate with other production houses but failed.
Will you work with Shree Venkatesh Films in future?
If the project is good, then why not? I am open to working with everyone.
Coming to Abhimaan, director Raj Chakrabarty has put in a lot of effort. So how was it to work with him after Dui Prithibi?
Raj works passionately. Both of us were toying with two-three ideas before we zeroed down on this one. This is one film where the money didn���t matter. The idea got me kicked and both Raj and I worked out a model and we were ready for it.
As a producer, how do you perceive the industry?
I am new as a producer, so I don���t want to talk about that. But as an actor, I certainly feel the industry is driven by ideas and thoughts. Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand were also actors and producers. So, I have just boarded that train and let see how far it takes me.
With Durga Puja just a few days away, we are seeing pictures of stars at khuti puja and inaugurations. But Jeet is not at any of these events. Is this a conscious decision?
As I told you, I���m a spiritual person and I stay away from things related to Durga Puja. Something stops me��� but I am generally game for any other inaugurations or endorsements.

Like the Pujas, we don���t see you in political michhils too. Is that too a conscious call?
Cinemar michhile toh achi! (Laughs) What will I do in a political rally? Whenever someone calls me for help, even at an odd hour, I���m there. But I have to first know the reason for my presence before I give my nod. Otherwise, it���s better to spend time with my family, friends or in doing my own work.
The other Abhimaan we know of ��� starring Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan ��� shows how fame and star power create a rift between husband and wife. You too are a star, while your wife Mohna has no industry connections. Has there ever been any such rift between the two of you?
(Laughs out loud) Come on, I am a human being. Tell me, is there one couple in this world who hasn���t fought and then made up? We are no different.