Rendezvous with Ruslaan Mumtaz

He was trained under Shaimak for six months and also acted in theatre. Now, he is all set to make his debut in Robby Grewal's... film Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar (MP3). He is Ruslaan Mumtaz, son of veteran character artist Anjana Mumtaz.

Director of the movie Robby informed that there was hunt going on for the male lead. How did you manage to get the film?
There were auditions going on all over India for the character of Rohan. A lot of people had auditioned. Even I had got calls from a lot of coordinators. They kept calling me, but I didn't want to go a regular auditioning for a movie. But my mom said that since they are calling everybody in the city you should go and see where you stand as an actor. I was planning to train myself at Shaimak's and then my mom would introduce me to directors as she is from the film line. But wasn't ashamed of using my mom's name but she wanted to know where I stand as an individual. Then I went and auditioned for the film and got the role.

Have you done any training in acting before this?
I did theatre for three years before doing this film. So, I was doing acting constantly. I also did modeling. I have done lots of advertisements. When this film happened I was dancing for Shaimak Davar's troupe and I had just completed six months then I have to leave Shaimak for this film.

Did you always want to be an actor?
When I was in my S.Y.B.com I had decided to become an actor.

How influential was your mother in getting you into this profession?
To be honest my mom always worked as a deterrent as she never wanted me to be a part of this industry. As she thought that there a lot of factors involved like everyone will be talented and good looking but still there is luck factor involved and you are not sure if you will make it. Your life will change every Friday, one Friday they will put you at a height and the next they will pull you down which she didn't want me to go through. She is a woman and had her husband to support her financially but for a man it is a very difficult situation to be in as he is the supporter of the house and if he goes wrong then everything goes down with it. A man should have a steady job and a steady income. But at that point of time when she was doing films, it wasn't considered steady but now so many avenues like television have opened up. What's the worst, I could be doing serials and that will give me money.

Robby Grewal's first film Samay did not really strike a chord with the audience. How was he as a director?
What happened with Samay was that it released much before its time. I don't know why but I saw Samay on the first day. I didn't even imagine I would be working with Robby Grewal four years later. So somewhere we connected with each other. The kind of films he makes are for the audiences of my age group. Robby is a modern director, when you read the script I decided I wanted to do this film. You can't decide the Box office success of a film but you can decide whether you want to be a part of the film. It's a different film; I will call it as a Dil Chahta hai. If it works everyone will do well and if it doesn't it will definitely remembered somewhere.

MP3 sounds a youthful title. Is your character equally young?
I am playing a seventeen year old guy who is from a rich family. His parents love him and friends love him. At that a girl who comes into his life falls in love with him but he takes her love for granted. One can't take love for granted. And the film is about this realization.

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