Over a year after playing Maratha warrior Tanhaji Malusare in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020), Ajay Devgn has embraced another real-life character with his recent release, Bhuj: The Pride of India. Before stepping into the shoes of Indian Air Force squadron leader Vijay Karnik for the war drama, the actor says his only concern was that he “shouldn’t wrong” the real-life hero. “In such cases, I try to be more honest to the character and not make it too filmy. When one fights for the nation, they don’t brag about it. So, that honesty should reflect [in my portrayal]. You can’t make a film without taking some creative liberties, but we have kept it subtle,” says Devgn. With the Abhishek Dudhaiya directorial venture, the actor intends to familiarise the current generation with the unsung heroes.

The war drama, which focuses on a chapter of Bhuj during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, dropped on Disney+ Hotstar yesterday. With movies taking the OTT route, social media verdicts have replaced box-office collections as the new-age barometer. How does he react to social media becoming a critical factor in a film’s success? “The deciding factor is the film eventually. Having said that, social media does hamper [a film’s run] sometimes. We can’t do much about it because in today’s day and age, everybody has become [an online critic].”

Devgn admits he has little patience for trolls, and uses social media to the bare minimum. “I don’t have Twitter or Instagram installed on my phone. So, I don’t keep myself updated about what people are saying online. I think that’s the best way to be. You have to trust your judgment, and that of people around you. I stay sane by being disconnected and focusing on work.”

With promising projects in Maidaan and Mayday, Devgn is enjoying the current phase of his career. He notes that nuanced roles are now being written for mature actors. “If you see around the world, stories are being written for mature actors because such characters offer more depth. Now, it is difficult for youngsters to get [interesting stories].”