Aftab turns producer to boost acting career

Feb 17, 2008 Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Feb 18 (IANS) "Mast" boy Aftab Shivdasani, who has failed to become a bankable star after many films, has turned producer - to create opportunities for himself that won't come otherwise.

"Yes, I'm turning producer this year. I've set up my company Rising Son Entertainment. And the first film goes on the floors in June-July," the actor said.

"I'm turning a producer to create opportunities for myself, to do roles and films that would otherwise not come to me. In fact, the director has also been finalised. I can't announce his name because he hasn't been signed as yet," Aftab told IANS.

Interestingly, Aftab isn't only producing the film, but also writing it.

"I discovered I had it in me to write a script when I waited on the sets while shooting. Instead of wasting time, I started writing. And the process resulted in a very interesting romantic story."

Aftab was a well-known child artiste and featured in films like as "Mr India", "Chaalbaaz" and "Insaniyat", till Ram Gopal Varma launched him as a full-fledged hero in "Mast".

After that, he was seen in several films like "Kasoor", "Awara Paagal Deewana", "Pyaar Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega" and "Masti".

Aftab wants to cast a new girl opposite himself in his first production. The hunt for a fresh face is currently on.

The actor admits that he leads a busy life. "But I can't sleep around or do drugs just to be written about. Yes, I do lead a colourful life. After all, I'm just 29 and single. But what I do in my private moments is not for public consumption."

Aftab is just getting over his break-up with Yana Gupta.

"It was painful. Aren't all break-ups difficult? But the wounds are healing on both sides now. When we broke up, we both decided not to speak about it in public. And we stuck to our guns.

"Even now there's tremendous respect and friendship between us. It isn't fun beyond a point to be single. If I had my way, I'd have gotten married at 23. But things haven't worked out. Maybe I'll get lucky in love next time."

In 2007, Aftab had maintained a low profile.

"I was shooting for two of my films - Ganesh Acharya's 'Money Hai To Honey Hai' and E. Niwas' 'De Taali'. I won't categorise them as comedies. They are romantic comedies in the way we have them in Hollywood. Very frankly, I've had my fill of all-boys' comedies. I'm hungering for better acting opportunities. By producing my own films, I hope to renew my energies as an actor."