Exclusive : Dev Gill(Magadheera) - Chitchat

When Magadheera was started, I heard it had a folkloric/period setup and, of course, everyone knew that the film had megastar's son Ram Charan as hero. Then, there's Srihari in a special role. So, everyone was curious as to who'd play the villain. When Dev Gill's name was finally announced, no one knew much about him though he had acted in a Telugu film already. After Magadheera released, everyone started appreciating him. I tried to get in touch with him and he left his local number in Hyderabad and I wasn't able to reach him first. As shows in our area got cancelled due to non-arrival of prints, we saw the movie the following day, and I then called his assistant Sunil and got his present number. His wife, who he had been in love with and recently got married, picked up the phone, and I had a brief chitchat with Dev. Excerpts of interview for TeluguCinema.Com readers:

Tell me about your background. Where are you originally from?
Dev Gill: I was born and brought up in Pune. I did my schooling and graduation from there too. While I was still studying in the college, I started my career in modeling. I won the Model of the Year award when I was 18.

How did your family receive it. What do they do, by the way?
Dev Gill: My father runs a restaurant and my mother is a homemaker. Ours is just a regular middle class family, but they encouraged me from my childhood, and so my being a model was not a problem per se. After I was chosen the Model of the Year, I started doing ramp shows and I was also named the finalist by GladRags in 1998.

Did you done any modeling for brands or were you content with ramp shows?
Dev Gill: I did, as a matter of fact. I worked for Cadbury's chocolate, Atlas Cycles, Promise toothpaste, Standard Chartered Bank, and more.

How and why did you ramp up your career to movies?
Dev Gill: Though I am a model, my eyes were always on acting. So when Prithivi Theatre announced a talent show, I applied and I was selected. (Prithivi theatre is one of the prestigious theatres in India, started by the legendary Prithiviraj Kapoor).

That's interesting! And, how did you actually enter the filmdom?
Dev Gill: After I entered in the theatre, I started going around with my portfolio and got an opportunity to work in the film Bhagath Singh. Then, I got opportunity to work with thespian Dev Anand saab in the film Mister Prime minister.

Wow, how was it to work with him?
Dev Gill: It's an amazing experience indeed. He's a true legend - even thinking about him can put someone like me to such a shame and embarrassment. Even today, he walks up a hill without even a walking stick and does not take a car! He is so active always and is a good-natured individual. I learned a lot while working with him.

How did you land in Tollywood?
Dev Gill: My first Telugu film is Krishnarjuna, but sadly, the film was a flop and I was not noticed in it.

was your first experience in Tollywood?
Dev Gill: Working with Mohanbabu gaaru was really great. Before I signed the film, I heard things like he manhandles artistes. I was even surprised how anyone can manhandle someone so simply! I said to myself and to others too that I'd simply mind my own work without giving scope to any arguments or altercations. To my surprise, he turned out to be a really nice person! He was punctual, friendly, and definitely not anything I heard was true! I learned my one of the first lessons in Tollywood then - that I should experience something myself and not simply go by what I am told. I learned a lot from him on how to work, etc.

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