’I’m more careful because of her’

Shiney Ahuja takes his 14-month-old daughter Arshiya for a morning walk every day. We catch them in a playful mood

Shiney Ahuja takes his 14-month-old daughter arshiya for a morning walk every day. We catch them in a playful mood

OUR early morning shoot is delayed by almost an hour. The supporting star of the shoot has just woken up and is getting ready, we are told. We don't mind the wait, especially if it's for a 14-month-old. She comes down with her dad, actor Shiney Ahuja, a bit wide-eyed and wary of strange faces and a camera that starts clicking almost instantly. Arshiya has her father's eyes.

The father and daughter morning walk is a daily routine. But it turns out to be more than just a walk for Shiney, who has to constantly run after Arshiya once she gets comfortable with people around her.

"Boo boo is for dog," explains the actor as he tries to control the adorable bundle of joy from rushing towards stray dogs in the building. This is the first time Shiney is shooting with his child. His wife Anupam looks on.
After the half-hour shoot, it's time for breakfast. On the way up to their seventh floor apartment, Anupam ribs her husband about being forced to get up early every morning ever since Arshiya's birth.

He also potty-cleans her. "Sometimes," he adds, sheepishly. The actor playfully says that Anupam's mood can be gauged by how much Arshiya has eaten.

"If I come back from the gym and she looks at me and asks, 'hi, how was the gym?' I know that Arshiya's eaten well. Everyday our discussion starts with what the baby ate. I think Arshiya takes 15 minutes to eat but the discussion on what she ate goes on for half an hour." "But I am her mother," Anupam defends herself, and hits back with, "And should I say how you complimented me the other day?"

Shiney makes a face as Anupam relates that when she went down all dressed and asked her husband how she looked, he said, "Like my BMW."

It's Shiney's turn to be defensive and he says with a laugh, "But I always say na... Porsche is beautiful but the BMW is hot."

Meanwhile, Arshiya is placed on her high-stool to eat, while Shiney takes the couch to answer some parental and pertinent questions... there are other voices that chip in during the interview, the most distinct being Arshiya's, who often calls out, in between mouthfuls, to her "papa".

How does your morning begin?
I am not a morning person at all. But now Arshiya wakes me up most of the time. I'll accept that. (Laughs) Sometimes she just pats me first, I feel her tiny hands on my shoulder and then she will go, 'pa pa' (enacts). Her cognitive ability is quite well-defined.

So fatherhood has changed you as a person.
Sub-consciously, yes. That's what others tell me. I have stopped driving fast even if I am getting late. I am more careful about myself now because of her.

You are not seen in parties.
I never saw my parents going out for parties. I know there is a lot of glitz and glamour in the profession I am in. But honestly, I have never grown up like that. I feel out of place at parties.
It's hard for me to do social chit-chat where I know the conversation is going to end pretty much from where it started. Only sometimes it is interesting.

How do you react when your films' fail?
Fortunately I have known the fate of my film even before its release. When I see a film, I know what's working and what's not. I am quite honest about my opinion with my directors or the crew if they ask me. So, a film not doing well has never shocked me.

Go on...
See last year's Tashan. It had a lot of prominent stars like Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan... but it didn't do too well, it didn't have it in despite all the marketing and the stars. Then you have films like Taare Zameen Par, which is strong in content.

Did you know the fate of Hijack too?
Yes, I did. And I told my director so. Hijack was a clear-cut case of wrong marketing, wrong release and the script not being right. Although I feel Kunal's (Shivdasani) work as a director was nice. The script could have been a little better.

Didn't that create any problems because people don't...
(Interrupts) Ya, people don't want to hear the truth. No one wants to face reality. There are two ways of looking at it: Either you take it in your stride and do something about it or think, 'Oh, he is a spoke in the wheel all the time'.
I think in the long run, a person respects that I spoke my mind. If he doesn't, then the person is not worth working with. As a team member, it's not good to play games.

So, what's your feeling about Har Pal so far?
There are still some scenes to be shot, and then the post-production. But till now, it's superb. The film has a soul. (Arshiya interrupts to call out "Papa")

What about link-ups?
I have learnt to ignore it...now.
Wife Anupam adds: "Oh, but the first time Shiney was linked to his co-star, he called me up in America, sounding all upset. So I told him it's okay and not to worry. After 10 minutes, I realised that I was consoling him when in reality he should be consoling me." (Laughs)

What about having problems with co-stars?
I honestly have no problems with any of my co-stars. I believe that no one is perfect. If I start looking at my co-stars' quirks, I will never be able to work with them. Also, it would affect my performance especially if I am supposed to be madly in love with her. I can't afford not to love my co-stars. (Laughs).

And you were not hiding your marriage when you started off?
Of course not. I was surprised when stories came out that I was hiding my marriage. Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi took three years to release.
Every month I was told next month it will release. In the meantime, Anu got this brilliant opportunity to work in New York. It would have been unfair to hold her back. So she went.

And...
And if you see any of my films, you will always see this ring (shows the wedding ring), even if I am playing a bachelor. I always wear it. And because it's diamond, it shines on screen.

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