My Bollywood journey slow and steady: Prateik

Mumbai: In the backdrop of playing second fiddle to lead actors in various flicks, actor Prateik Babbar is keeping his fingers crossed ahead of the release of his first solo project as a protagonist `My Friend Pinto` slated to release on October 14.

The actor who won critical acclaim for his debutante performance in `Jane Tu...Ya Jane Na` candidly admits that his Bollywood journey is "slow and steady". "I feel my journey in the industry has been slow and steady. Though I am inexperienced but I am still curious and eager to do work. I love and enjoy what I am doing. I like playing different characters. I want to do good work..something that audiences enjoy," Prateik told PTI in an interview. Prateik, son of actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar, made his Bollywood debut in Aamir Khan Production`s `Jaane Tu..Ya Jaane Na` in 2008. His portrayal of Genelia`s brother in the movie won him plaudits and earned him several awards and nominations. He next appeared in Kiran Rao`s critically acclaimed `Dhobi Ghaat`, which opened to positive reviews at film festivals worldwide. Prateik played the role of Munna, a migrant from Bihar living in a slum who dreams of getting a break in Bollywood as an actor. He played roles of a collegian in Rohan Sippy`s action-thriller `Dum Maro Dum` alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Rana Daggubati and that of a student in Prakash Jha`s `Aarakshan` rubbing shoulders with Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpai. Prateik is apparently enthusiastic about Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s `My Friend Pinto` which is his first break as a lead actor opposite Kalki Koechlin. "I am completely taking the responsibility of the film on my shoulder as a lead actor. I do feel the pressure...but it is fun and exciting pressure. But it might turn other way round if the film does not do well," Prateik said. "I have taken a vow of celibacy until the film is released. People do lots of things before their film releases. Some visit religious places to seek blessings, some take a vow of giving up certain things and I have decided to go celibate. I am 24, so it`s my test and I am sure I will pass," he quipped. `My Friend Pinto` is produced by Bhansali and directed by debutante Raaghav Dar. His other solo films in the pipeline are `Ek Deewana Tha`, directed by Gautham Menon, featuring Prateik and Amy Jackson, who is making her Bollywood debut, in lead roles. `Ek Diwana...` is a remake of Gautham`s own Tamil and Telugu film, with a different cast and climax. The other film titled `Issaq`, an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Manish Tiwary is also in the pipeline. "I have two more solo projects hopefully one should come up by this year end and other by next year. `Ek Tha Deewana` is my first romantic-comedy. I feel happy to be part of Gautham`s super duper hit project. "Then there is `Issaq` it is a dramatic film we have found someone to play the female lead but I can`t talk about it. I have got few good...solid offers on solo projects," Prateik revealed. "It does not matter for me be if I am doing solo or supportive roles in a film. It is just that the script and the character should be exciting. I zero in on any project by script, character and then production house," he added. When asked which film proved as a turning point in his four-year-old career, Prateik said, "I have no idea which movie was a turning point for me as an actor. It was a slow process and it is still a slow and steady process. I feel good things are coming my way and I have made most from the opportunities". PTI