Angry young boy, unplugged

Gurnaaz Kaur

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Dev Kharoud has established himself as an action hero in Punjabi cinema but the actor says it hasn’t been an easy ride. “I may have been accepted as an actor after Rupinder Gandhi —The Gangster and Rupinder Gandhi 2, but I wasn’t taken seriously. It’s only after Dakuan Da Munda things changed for me. It has been a long and slow process.”

In Chandigarh to promote his next Zakhmi, Dev says he has earned his audience with a lot of hard work. “My audience is aware that I will only do something relevant, that which touches their hearts. I make sure to select projects that are content driven.” Although we’ve seen him in intense action sequences or as an angry man in most of his films, but Dev says there is no reason to fear being typecast. “It’s only action that is common in my films, the stories are different, my characters are varied and I do bring about a new shade to my acting each time.” This time around we will see him as a family man. Zakhmi, the actor explains, is a story of a man who fights against the system and injustice that a common man has to face at the hands of law. “It is sad that in a country like India, only those who have money have the power. For a commoner, wanting justice is a big struggle. He ends up losing everything for his basic rights. In countries like Canada, law is the same for everyone, no matter who you are.”

Hey, he is harmless!

Considering his on-screen image of a serious man, one does think twice before staring a conversation with him, let alone crack a joke or have a laugh with him. “But I am very happy-go-lucky person. I love to laugh and take things easy. Believe me I am a fun person to be around. Don’t judge me by my role; that’s my work. That’s how my viewers like me.”

Getting candid

There’s another secret Dev lets out in this candid conversation. While he makes sure to keep his fans happy with his choice of work, he isn’t very active on social media and says, “I am a shy person. I don’t like to keep uploading pictures or keep telling I am here and then I am there or oh I am wearing this brand. That’s too much. And I think posting too many pictures takes away the excitement from seeing the actor on screen.” Having said that, he isn’t entirely aloof. “I go live once in a while to update my friends and fan about my work. I want to keep them clued in.”

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com