Marriage hasn't affected my popularity: Jimmy

Oct 5, 2007 Shweta Thakur

New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Who says a Bollywood actor's fame takes a nosedive after marriage? Certainly not Jimmy Shergill who has been married for six years.

"I don't think marriage affects the career of an actor in any way. Everybody knew when I got married and it has not at all affected my fan following adversely," Jimmy told IANS.

"I have been married for six years now and the audience still loves me the way they used to love me when I was single," added the actor who was in town to promote his upcoming film "Chhodon Naa Yaar".

In the film, Jimmy stars opposite Kim Sharma. He will enact the role of a mass-communication student, who is "an aspiring director and to complete his course he wants to make a film on an unusual subject."

Jimmy has done a variety of roles ranging from that of a rebellious teenager who falls in love against the rules of his school in "Mohabbatein" and a college student stranded in politics in "Haasil" to an army officer in love with a terrorist's sister in "Yahaan" and a villain in "Eklavya".

The actor has tried his hand at various roles and his work has been largely appreciated, but he is still waiting for a blockbuster.

"There is no formula to make a hit film. A hit film just comes up, it's not a conscious effort," he maintained.

"I have done my work with honesty. Growth and success in my case has been slow and steady. But I must say that every step has been interesting so far. In all these years my confidence level has increased and approach towards the character has improved," he said.

The magic of his performance in the Punjabi movie "Mannat" enchanted audiences. In fact the actor enjoys working in Punjabi films more than Hindi movies.

"I love doing Punjabi films. It is wonderful shooting in beautiful places like Kullu-Manali and the food is just yummy!

"The level of Punjabi cinema is completely different. You must see the way they are released abroad. There is a beeline for tickets, as compared to what it is for Hindi films," he said.

He said the language barrier becomes meaningless when the performance is good. Good work is appreciated and enjoyed everywhere.

"So many foreigners in the US watch Hindi films in theatres even if they don't understand the language. They laugh and cry with the characters. If the work is good it will be recognised everywhere," he said.

Jimmy is now all set to tickle people's funny bones with "Bachelor Party". His other forthcoming projects include "Stranger", "Wednesday", "Dus Kahaniyan" and "Haste Haste".