Move Over Stallone – Ajaz Khan Has Got Your Number!
Below is an interview I did with Ajaz Khan. Enjoy!
Could we get some background information on you? Who exactly is Ajaz Khan?
Ajaz Khan: I am originally from the great city of Ahmedabad, and I had always dreamed to act on the silver screen since I saw Amitabh Bachan perform in Agneepath – “The fire path”. Even while I was in London and New York, I never lost the sight of my dream and always inched towards it.
Ekta Kapoor’s daily soap opera, Karam Apna Apna was my first step to start this journey towards the silver screen. From then on I went to act in various teleseries like Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, Rahen Tera Ashirwaad, Kahani Hamare Mahabharat Ki as well as the recent Shaurat, Nafrat aur Showbiz on Sony, where I worked with Vikram Bhatt. My latest venture is a teleseries “Crime and Bollywood” where I am portraying the role of Sanjay Dutt.
My vision of acting did not stop only on television, but with God’s grace, I was able to extend my talent onto the silver screen as well.
I have recently finished shooting for a Bollywood movie, Allah Ke Bande -“The children at War”. Working with Sharman Joshi and Naseeruddin Shah in the film was an experience of a lifetime for me. I have also completed a movie titled Lamha starring Bipasha Basu, Sanjay Dutt, and Kunal Kapoor and am looking forward to working in Chor Pe Mor with Ramsay Brothers.
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The much-awaited movie Rakta Charitra is being released in October as well. The film is said to depict the life of the slain political leader. The film, currently in the final stages of production, is scheduled to be released on October as well.
How did you break into the industry?
Ajaz Khan: My debut movie in the Indian Film industry was EK “The power of one”- costarring; Nana Patekar, Bobby Deol, Shriya Saran, Chunky Pandey, and Jackie Shroff. I am so gracious to the director Sangeeth Sivan to give me this break; my stepping stone into the Bollywood.
The story of “EK” is about a contract killer, who is framed for a murder of a politician and I was lucky enough to portray the role of the politician’s alliance.
Stunts by the celebrated stuntman Peter Hein’s is one of the assets of the movie.
What made you want to get into film and where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Ajaz Khan: Cinema and acting are my passion, my life and I think passion becomes stronger when it has an outlet. The unity of the world rests on the pursuit of passion and I probably see myself in Hollywood in the forthcoming years of course with the support and wishes of my fans and friends.
The mind-blowing performance of Amitabh Bachan “The King of Bollywood” in one his Film’s, Agneepath -The Path of Fire; left an everlasting impression on my mind and soul and inspired me to become an aspiring actor. Agneepath, an intense melodrama which was released in 1990, derives heavily from Al Pachino’s ‘Scarface’. This film was up there with the ‘City of God’ and ‘Hard Boiled’ world cinema masterpieces. The story is about a man who is fed up with injustice becomes his own system of governance yet manages to keep his conscience intact in the underworld. The film was inspired by the poem written by Late Sir Harivanshrai Bachchan Ji; Amitabh Bachan’s father and a renowned Hindi poet.
What got you into fitness and what motivates you to continually train hard and keep yourself in shape?
Ajaz Khan: Sylvester Stallone’s performance and iconic inertia in the smash hit “Rocky” inspired me to go for bodybuilding. I was so impressed with Sly Stallone that I got all the 5 CDs of the film. After watching Sly Stallone perform in Rambo I became his hardcore fan and that thought and idea of drilling my body to look like Sly Stallone was buried deep in my subconscious and I decided to direct all my positive energies to reach my goal.
You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That’s the mark of a true professional and to reach the goal I would leave no stone unturned.
To aim is not enough, you must hit the target. This keeps me motivated to undergo the rigorous training and keeping myself in shape.
Can you tell us a little bit about your role in your latest film which will be out in October?
Ajaz Khan: There are two movies being released in the month of October; Raktha Charitra and Allah Ke Bande.
“Rakta Charitra’ is the story of a man’s phenomenal rise to power and a story of the most intense blood-curdling conflict ever heard of between two individuals. Moreover, the story is also the ultimate statement on the often heard disastrous consequences of a fatal mixture of caste, crime, family feuds and politics, and the film has been dubbed in three languages.
Rakta Charitra has been directed by Ram Gopal Verma known as RGV amongst his fans and friends, a well renowned Indian film director, screenwriter and producer.
My second film that is being released on 22nd Oct 2010 – Allah Ke Bande – “ The children at War” is based on the life of two twelve-year-old boys living in one of the most ruthless slums of Mumbai. Both are working for Mafia and supply drugs and loot people, they start developing a more sinister criminal psychosis instead of reforming and set a gang for ultimate power as they grow up. Life forces the two of them to make a decision between choosing their misguided childhood dreams and redemption.
Redemption comes, but with a heavy price. The movie is directed by Faruq Kabir and has been supported by UNICEF; the largest UN organization in India and ensures that each and every child born in our country, gets the best start in life. UNICEF has associated with Allah Ke Bande to support the honesty and integrity that the film carries in bringing to notice a subject like juvenile crime. This film has also given India its first graphical music video by the name of “Maula.”
The big role that you will be starting in December, can you touch on that a little? I hear it is from the industry’s top producer.
Ajaz Khan: I am really excited about my upcoming film in December, but unfortunately, I have little to say about the film as the cast and the storyline is being kept under wraps or the moment. Will have to wait and watch.
This new role you are working on needs you to be in single-digit bodyfat levels. Do you feel this will be a difficult task or have you already been making great progress?
Ajaz Khan: A task always seems difficult until it is started and finally completed and I think I am almost there. Working on single-digit body fat levels was a very challenging task. I have been closely monitoring my diet and following my exercise schedule religiously, all under John Shumate’s able guidance and we both think that we are making a steady progress toward our goal.
When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible.
You already have made a name for yourself and quite the following. What would it mean to you to be recognized as one of the top actors in India — critics are already calling you the Sylvester Stallone of India?
Ajaz Khan: Being recognized as one of the top actors in the Indian film industry would be dream come true, the golden dream that I have been holding on to for long and I would never let it go. Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second chance, give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you. I am honored that my critics are calling me Sylvester Stallone of India, but I have a long way to go to be compared to my idol, the Macho Man – Rambo. It is a challenge for me to rise up and outstand in such a competitive industry but then what can be achieved in life without a challenge, right?
Is there anyone you would like to thank who helped you get to where you are today?
Ajaz Khan: I am so honored by the love and kindness that my fans and friends have given me and am blessed to be in alliance with John and bodybuilding.com to lay out such a wonderful a platform for me.
I would like to thank my mother, who showed me the way of life. Her love, encouragement, and confidence in me kept me motivated to achieve my goal.
I have no words to thank John Shumate, my teacher, and mentor, who spared his valuable time and resources to carve me into the man I am today. As we all know mentors are very instrumental in a person’s growth in any field; John’s faith and trust in my capabilities had a very positive impact on me. I really admire John; as he has the strength of a character that I can lean upon.
Is there anything you would like to add to this interview that we haven’t already covered?
Ajaz Khan: Pain is my motivation, we cannot learn without pain, everything worthwhile needs some effort.
No pain, no gain; no thorns, no throne; no cross, no crown.
I train and work out so hard that I leave no room for doubt in my mind. I am a firm believer of the thought “The mind is the limit” and as long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.
I for sure believe in luck, and I have found that the harder I work, the luckier I get; so work hard my friends.
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