I have avoided coterie around me, says Ajay Devgn

New Delhi: Ajay Devgn feels that his dislike for a coterie around him has kept him in good stead in Bollywood.

Devgn had three hits to his credit last year and opened 2011 successfully with Madhur Bhandarkar`s rom-com `Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji` but the national-award-winning actor says he has been careful about picking up people around him. "I have never had a coterie around me whether at the beginning of my career or today," Devgn told reporters. "I may have seen highs as well as lows but never ever have I given myself in the hands of those who may take unfair advantage of me," says Devgn. The actor says he did not think twice before agreeing to play a 40-year-old guy, who falls for his 20 something junior at the workplace. Devgn and Emraan Hashmi reunited for the buddy comedy again in `Dil Toh...` after `Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai` where they were pitted against each other. "When Madhur came to me with `Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji`, I and Kumar Mangat (producer) sat down with him and started discussing the other co-actors. It was Madhur who came up with the idea of roping in Emraan and I was convinced too." Devgn, who became father to a baby boy last year, has finally decided to go a little slow in picking up films and has dropped out of Prakash Jha`s `Aarakshan` and Rajkumar Santoshi`s `Power`. He and actress wife Kajol already have a seven year-old daughter, Nysa. The actor is planning to begin shooting `Singham` remake followed by `Bol Bachchan` but there has not been much movement on his film `Tezz (earlier titled `Bullet Train`), which went on floors last year. Devgn says the delay was caused because they wanted to have a more experienced producer on board. "This is an expensive film and is required to be shot in a very lavish manner. It involves a lot of action with extensive schedule in overseas as well. In such a scenario, it is better to have someone who comes with the right expertise to handle such a mammoth project. There was some time that went into this deliberation and eventually Ratan Jain took over the film." The actor is hopeful that `Tezz` would begin and wrap up soon. PTI