I am playing an anti-hero in my debut Gujarati film: Ajaz Khan

Former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan is all set to make his D-Town debut soon. Talking to us, Ajaz shares, “I was born in Ahmedabad and although I shifted to Mumbai when I was pretty young, I can speak fluent Gujarati. I am playing an anti-hero in Angaar, which will mark my debut in Gujarati cinema. I hope that after this film, filmmakers here will realise that they don’t have to look too far if they are looking for an anti-hero (laughs). I play a don in this film and it has some fantastic action sequences. It was fun to shoot in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat.”

The Bigg Boss 7 second runner-up, who also won the reality show Bollywood Club, has done Hindi and Telugu films too. He says, “I am proud to see the way Gujarati films have evolved and look where Pratik Gandhi, who is from this industry, has reached today. I will also be directing a Gujarati film soon.”

He adds, “I keep coming to Ahmedabad because I have several friends here. I have some fantastic memories of being here during Uttarayan and Navratri and very few cities can match those celebrations. I love eating homemade khaman and patra whenever I am here. I love eating bhajiyas and dalwadas at Law Garden. I haven’t found such soft dalwadas anywhere else in the country. Also, I love eating pani puri at the Municipal Market on CG Road. And if I have to eat out at night, I love visiting Manek Chowk.”

‘I am directing a Hindi web series’

Ajaz, who is also directing a Hindi web series, tells us, “I will be making my directorial debut with Bombay Bonds and it has been a huge learning experience. I had two spot boys on the set, and I handled everything else.”

He adds, “Thanks to OTT, realistic content is popular now and directors can show whatever they want to. They don’t have to think too much about censorship. So, I feel this is the best medium. The audience has also become a lot smarter. I feel crime drama is the most popular genre on OTT.”

Spending time in jail was very tough’

Ajaz, who was detained by the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) in 2021 and spent 26 months in the Arthur Road Jail, was released on bail in 2023. He tells us, “Spending time in jail was tough. My family faced a very tough time as well and it came as a rude shock for them. In our society, people judge you all the time. But I am living my dreams now.”

He adds, “If you are a positive person, you will find something positive even in a negative place. After I was jailed, I told myself, ‘Let the court decide if I am guilty.’ It (Arthur Road Jail) is the most dangerous prison in the world. I met gangsters, encounter specialists, politicians etc. I would listen to their stories and take down notes. I have used elements from these stories in my web series. My directorial debut must be the first web series where the dialogues have been written on the set. People call me an entertainer. I can make viewers laugh as well as cry and that’s why I was offered so many reality shows. Even Salman Khan had called me a complete entertainer and said that I was very talented. It was a huge compliment for me.”