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Boys
II showmen!
These boys shot into the media limelight with the
very first assignments they did. Here they get together to talk
about fame, fortune, fun and fundas...
By Akash Shrivastava
 These
are the boys who've taken the modelling
and film world by
storm.
Shahid Khattar-who made the girls go ga-ga with his cool act in
the Pepsi commercial featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee and
Kajol. Rohan Dey-the droopy-eyed boy with the winsome smile from
Rockford. And Vatsal Seth, who has been lighting up the TV with
his hazel eyes. Thrust into celebdom with their movies, serial,
ads and music videos, they are coping
with fame and fortune with surprising equanimity. Whereas one hears
of boy-wonders losing their head, these guys have theirs firmly
on their shoulders.
That doesn't mean that they're crashing bores, either. While Rohan
shocked his mother this Feb when he invited 50 girls for his b'day
bash, Vatsal has been cruising along just fine, giving his conservative
Gujarati community the chills. Shahid, arguably the biggest star
in the teen category, is having a ball partying, watching movies
and generally having a blast, like any other teenager.
What's
the upside and downside of fame?
Shahid: There
is no other upside of fame other than getting creative satisfaction.
The fact that because I'm somebody accepted by the audiences, I
get to choose what I really want to do. The opportunities that come
my way are all due to the certain recognition factor I enjoy with
the people. Beyond that, I think everything about fame is a downside.
I'm a very private person and I don't like people trying to pry
or intrude into my private life and space.
Vatsal: The
upside has been the recognition I've earned and the happiness my
work and achievements have given my dad and mom. The downside is
all that one has to do to cope with the hard work and then listen
to people who talk shit about you.
Shahid: Oh!
Tell them you also like making the money.
Vatsal: Shut
up, Shahid. You know that nobody makes money in tv serials.
Rohan: I
am the only one out of Rockford who hasn't made a single penny!
Vatsal: The
downside is my conservative Gujarati community. They keep telling
my mom and dad, "Look what your son is doing on tv. He's stripping
down to his underwear. It's not a good line, he will get bigdao-ed."
I just feel they should mind their own business. Sometimes, people
get more pre-occupied with famous people's lives than their own.
It's crazy.
Shahid: I'm
19. I'm doing arts, FYSA, at Mithibai College, Mumbai. My DOB is
25 Feb 1981. I'm Pisces, only I hide my Piscean weaknesses very
well. After the Pepsi ad, I did a music video for Polygram called
Ankhon Mein. Then ads for KitKat, Onida TV and Alaa Bleach where
I'm wearing this ridiculous wig and my friends have a gala time
teasing me about it!
Rohan: I'm
14. My DOB is 6 Feb 1986. I'm in class VIII at Campion School, Mumbai.
I was in Rockford. I've just done a pilot for a serial. I've also
signed up with Disney to do a Sunday morning show.
Vatsal: I'm
19. DOB-5 August 1980. Leo. I'm studying BSc at Mithibai College,
Mumbai. Also doing a 3-year computer course with NIIT. I've done
ads for Sualin and four music videos for the album Only Mohabbat
with TIPS. I'm doing Just Mohabbat. Rohan: "The attitude of people
around me has really, really changed. I've got some super-dirty
vibes... I've lost a few very good friends and that makes me feel
sick..."
 How
did you start off in modelling or acting?
Shahid: It
was really a funny coincidence. I'd got a new bike and a friend
who was going for the Pepsi ad screen test asked me for a ride.
When we got there, the coordinator asked me if I'd be interested
in the test. I didn't know shit about it then, but I went along
just for the heck of it. The next thing I knew, two days later,
I was shooting with Shah Rukh, Kajol and Rani for the Pepsi ad.
Rohan: Mine
was also a major coincidence. I was sitting in class and the teacher
announced the name of ten boys who had been called to the library
for a film audition. My name was not on the list, but out of sheer
curiosity, I went and stood in the line. I'm that kind of person-impulsive!
Whenever there's an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary,
I'll walk up and sign up. After the test was over, Nagesh (Kukunoor)
called up and said that I was selected for the role. I was at McDonald's
with my mom and I started dancing and screaming all over the place.
My mom later told me everyone there thought I was wacko.
Vatsal: I
had never thought of acting. But I had got my portfolio clicked,
I was thinking more on the lines of modelling. A coordinator sent
my snaps to the Just Mohabbat guys and my features matched well
with that of the young kid Harsh Lunia. That's how I got selected.
When I screen-tested, they gave me two pages of dialogue and ten
minutes to mug it up. Man, it was like school exams all over again,
and I've never been the kitabi keeda type. I didn't learn the dialogue
well, but they liked what I did on screen-and I was on!
You never intended, before that, to enter this field?
Shahid: As
a matter of fact, I did. But I was in two minds about if I wanted
to be in front of the camera or behind it. When to start was another
question. I'm very interested in direction-I think it's the most
creative aspect of the media. It has to do more with the mind, and
I like that. Acting is also about looking good and having to do
several things that are unreal, there's a lot of cheating involved.
Direction is a cleaner profession. Ha!
Rohan: Ever
since I was very young, acting has been something I have wanted
to do. Earlier, I didn't understand what it was all about. I just
wanted to be on the screen doing the stuff I saw others doing. Actors
have always inspired me-Aamir Khan is my favourite.
Vatsal: I
had never thought of acting as such. But once the opportunity came,
I didn't think twice. It's strange for me to be an actor, because
if you notice, I've got light eyes and people told me that light
eyes are not good. But then, Hrithik Roshan was also told that-and
look where he is today!
Were you nervous when you first faced the
camera?
Rohan: Like
hell! One's not supposed to look at the director, or the camera,
or the cameraman. But I just couldn't look blankly into space and
say my dialogue.
Shahid: I
don't know if I was nervous, but I did muck up a couple of initial
takes. Later, people told me I looked really natural.
Vatsal: I
was sweating and I think I stammered a bit. Especially since I was
filling in for Harsh, whose character had a set of mannerisms. So
I had to learn to get into the mould of the character first. From
then on, it was cool, I guess.
 How
has celebdom changed you and the people around you?
Shahid: With
outsiders, it really doesn't matter. People are obviously aware
of your fame, they want to know you and be associated with you because
you're a known entity. On the other hand, many people don't like
you because you got it and they didn't. My close friends whom I
cherish and my close family haven't changed at all. That makes me
feel good. I know that even if tomorrow I don't remain as successful
or go through a rough patch, they won't change. It gives me the
confidence, strength and belief to carry on further.
Rohan: The
attitude of people around me has really, really changed. Before
Rockford, I had plenty of friends. Now most of them have drifted
away; there's a perceptible amount of jealousy. I've got some super-dirty
vibes, friends questioning me on why I did the movie or why I did
a certain thing in it. I've lost a few very good friends and that
makes me feel sick... They just say "You've done Rockford, you're
a snob." I mean, it's as simple as that for them to categorize me
as something I definitely am not. It really irritates me, because
I can't understand the reason, nor can I put it down to a change
in my behaviour. I've not put on airs. I felt bad about it initially,
but I don't care a damn now. I've made a new set of friends, I'll
keep them, and I know who my real friends are. I've wisened up.
Vatsal:
The attitudes of people towards me have definitely changed for the
worse. I mean, I can't figure out whether my friends and relatives
actually like me or hate me. They tell me it's bad, and then slyly
tell me about their daughters being interested in acting and modelling,
too. They tell me it's bad and then they want me to help them get
into the line. Relatives come up to me and say: "Do you know me?
Now you've become a big person, why would you?" Gimme a break. That
duplicity is really sick, man.
Let's talk about sex...
Vatsal:
Aaila!!!
Rohan: But
what we really wanna know Vatsal, is whether you're a virgin or
not? Shahid: (innocently)
Mere ko kuch bhi nahi maloom.
Rohan: Tell
us, Shahid, when did you lose your virginity, before or after Pepsi?
Shahid: Agdam-bagdam...
(starts to blabber gibberish.)
Vatsal: I'm
a virgin. Not as in Madonna, but I really am.
Shahid: Hah!
Sun ke liya, bidu. Bahut shana hai tu!!
Rohan:
(indignantly). Obviously,
I am a virgin. What do you think? I'm only 14. And besides, I don't
think making out is like losing virginity.
Shahid: God,
this kid is really hardcore, man.
Rohan:
I just know that it's more than making out. That's all I can say
for the moment.
Vatsal: I'm
not looking to lose my virginity in a hurry. I'm saving it for Christmas.
Rohan: Is
Christmas the name of the girl you're saving it for?
Vatsal: Go
HOME!
 Ever
used your celebdom to score with girls?
Vatsal:
Half the girls who come up to me are after
who I am, not what I am. I stay away from them. I hate it when a
girl doesn't know me at all and still wants to fall all over me.
I've never used my celebrity status to attract girls. I'm a very
shy person, and generally stick to myself.
Is virginity an issue at all?
Vatsal:
I think I'll save it for my wife. I'm conservative.
Rohan:
It's not a big issue with me at all. I mean,
who's going to wait for marriage; who has seen that far ahead in
life? Every teenager spends a considerable amount of time thinking
when is the right time to get on with it. I'm waiting to be an adult
first, then I'll go about it... that's when I'm 18.
Shahid:
Oh!
So that's like I'm 19 and an adult for a year now. Hmmm. I've had
a girlfriend, I've kissed her, but beyond that, I'm not saying.
It's for me to know and for you to guess.
Rohan: That
means he's not a virgin.
Shahid: We're
guys, yaar. Virginity is not an issue for us. It's basically
whether you're in a serious relationship with the person. If two
people are comfortable doing what they have to, then it's a matter
of personal choice, really. But if it's just a one-night stand,
I don't think it makes any sense at all.
All of you were thrust into the
limelight at a very young age. Do you feel the loss of innocence
at an early age?
Rohan: What
innocence?! (Everyone laughs!)
Vatsal: It's
OK. It's like maturing faster than one normally would. I think because
of an increased interaction with adults, with whom I work most of
the time, I get to experience a lot of things a normal collegiate
wouldn't. All of it is not bad, and nowadays the faster you get
your bearings about life, the better.
Rohan: Sometimes,
I do feel like a little boy lost in an adult world. I've made a
lot of friends who are much older than I am. To a certain extent
it's good; to some extent, it's not. Good, because I like the mature
ideas I can relate to now; bad, because I can no longer feel or
behave like a child. So, I've lost a bit of my childhood, but it
has not been that bad either, because it's not like I missed out
on being a 4, 8, or 10-year-old. Maturing at 14 is not a bad thing
at all! Sometimes, I find my schoolmates very stupid and immature,
who keep teasing me about the kiss in the film. I feel like breaking
their teeth or something.
Shahid:
For me, it has been quite the opposite thing. Because of having
seen what the world is all about, I know what I'm all about. I'm
very aware of myself, my roots, where I come from. I see all the
roads, good and bad, and I know exactly which one to take, with
the lights fully on! ¨
Do you think that with teen celebdom and our culture's obsession
with youth, you'd be up for some tremendous pressure in your 20s?
Vatsal: Absolutely.
Getting where we are today, we're part of the phenomenon that's
creating celebrities out of teenagers. It's a new system, but as
we grow, so will the system, hopefully, and I think if one keeps
one's head firmly on one's shoulders, there's no need to fear our
20s or 30s. We'll progress in life, no matter if we remain in this
field or not.
Rohan:
I'm aware that acting is an unpredictable career, so I'm not really
giving it all my attention at the moment. I'm still young, so I'm
concentrating on studies as well and looking at options of law and
medicine. I really don't know whether I'll be successful as an adult
actor... Look at what happened to Jugal Hansraj! But at the same
time, if things don't work out for me, I'll have another option
in life.
Shahid: Being
a teenager, with so many confusions in the mind, the hormones running
wild and crazy, it's definitely the wrong time to make a lifelong
decision. It's dangerous, I think. I wanna go with the flow and
see where it takes me, but I'm going to swim close to the shore
for the moment. I believe that if God has given me an opportunity
in this field, it can't be without reason or meaning. But if at
all I can't make it as an actor, I'll do something else like take
up direction or something. The only thing I know for sure right
now, is that I'm going to be creative.
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