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FILM INTERVIEW: GULSHAN DEVAIJA

‘Shaitan’ Is Not Uncharacteristically Shocking or Different, but a Refreshing Thriller

By: Simran Mody

June 6, 2011

Shaitan on buzzine.com Masala films show the brighter side of Bollywood. An Anurag Kashyap production, whether he is attached as a director or producer, tends to be the exact opposite of masala flicks, and Shaitan -- which is directed by Bejoy Nambiar and stars Gulshal Devaija alongside Rajeev Khandelwal, Kalki Koechlin, Shiv Pandit, Ranjit Kapoor, and Kirti Kulhari -- is no exception. Indeed, Mr. Devaija took a few minutes out of his day to talk to the Indian media about Shaitan’s darkness, as the thriller about five young and hip people in Mumbai hits theaters worldwide on June 10th.

In speaking with the media about Shaitan, Mr. Devaija said that anyone who thinks the film has too much shock value is probably watching the film with a wrong eye. Instead, the psychological thriller delving into the dark minds of today’s Mumbai youth is intentionally scripted exactly the way Mr. Nambiar wants the film to be, Mr. Devaija said, adding that Shaitan is anything but a mindless “attention grabber.”

“I don’t think we have done anything which would have a shock value. It was scripted and it was in a flow. If it turns out something is shocking, then it's okay, but it's not done intentionally to shock people or to grab attention,” Mr. Devaija told the press. “I don’t think it’s intended to show Mumbai in a different perspective, but it wanted to show how young people live a very fast-paced life in the city. It also shows how young people are adapting themselves with the new Mumbai.”

Just the same, Mr. Devaija had to do some real-life adapting while on the production, what with Mr. Nambiar unhappy with the way he originally cast the actor.

“I was first called for the role of Mathur the cop, played by Rajiv Khandelwal. He wanted to shoot a scene with me to see if I fit the role. I think Rajiv Khandelwal was busy and was unable to give him time, so he was considering me,” Mr. Devaija explained to the press. “I shot for one whole day. It was a very tiring shoot. I had to spend the whole day with a big moustache. I don’t think he was really happy with how the shot came out and said he will let me know.”

Thankfully, Mr. Kashyap’s girlfriend and film co-star, Ms. Koechlin (who also starred in That Girl in Yellow Boots), recommended Mr. Devaija be re-cast as KC.

“Kalki suggested my name for KC, because (Mr. Nambiar) hadn’t finalized on the cast. So I took the scene, prepared for it, and was auditioned. Again, Bejoy Nambiar didn’t call me, so I called because I was getting jittery. He confirmed me, and that’s how I got the role.”

Still, as happy as Mr. Devaija is to be starring in Shaitan as KC, he still holds the Mathur character in high regard.

“Personally, I feel that Mathur’s character is the best of the film, but somehow I was instinctively drawn toward KC. I thought it would be a nice role. I would enjoy playing KC,” Mr. Devaija confessed to the press. “So when I shot for Mathur, I couldn’t give my 100 percent. I was somehow fantasizing the role of KC.”

What made Mr. Devaija fantasize about KC? Perhaps it was the character’s edginess. Whatever the reason may be, Mr. Devaija also confessed to the press that he has nothing in common with KC.

“I am not like KC at all. I don’t like too many people around, going to nightclubs, all this loud music -- I don’t do drugs, I don’t even smoke, though I occasionally enjoy my drinks,” he told the press. “I didn’t find the role difficult; I found it interesting, (but) I wanted to do it.”

The torn analysis continued for Mr. Devaija, who added that as much as he wanted to do the character, he did not want to be boxed into a specific role, which is the same approach he takes in all his films (including his recent appearances in That Girl In Yellow Boots and Dum Maaro Dum).

“I tried to keep KC as far away as possible, in terms of look, speaking, and walking style. I try to keep all the character as far away from me as possible,” Mr. Devaija told the press. “That’s why I don’t do TV commercials, because they want you as you are. It’s very boring.”

Boring as television advertisements may be, he clearly hopes the thriller that is Shaitan is not a bore for audiences, who will trek to multiplexes this weekend and choose between this film and Bhindi Bazaar Inc.