I know politics like the back of my hand, but films are an alien territory: Arjun Dev

You’ve heard of the attraction between people in films and

politics

. There are enough and more stories about real-life relationships and what became of them. You’ve also heard about sons of politicians enjoying a powerfully-backed launch in the

film

industry. This new real-life story is a bit different. At 28, Arjun Dev, an active politician, will soon see his dream of making his big-screen debut become a reality. Arjun, who will make his film debut with

Yugapurusha

next week, however, is just recovering from a real-life incident that actually seems like a scene out of an action film. Here’s more…
You were recently attacked by
miscreants in your hometown. What happened?
I have a couple of acres of ancestral property, to which some individuals had got illegal documents to run a road across. I had filed an injunction order on this, but there was a counter case filed against me on the grounds of atrocity — from a man (a labourer) who I had never seen before.
I had to refile a case of trespassing as these individuals did not provide any legal papers for what they were intending to do. I was on my way for a court hearing regarding a trespassing case I had filed a couple of months back. The date given was May 30. As I got out of my car at the court, I was attacked by two guys on a bike. They had helmets on, and had their faces covered. While I am still recovering, I have filed a complaint. There are suspects and the miscreants will surely be caught.
Have you had such encounters before?
I come from a political background. My father, who passed away when I was eight years old, was the first counsellor to a political party in Bengaluru. My grandfather was the first Mayor of Bengaluru. My mother is currently an active politician. So with so much happening at home, I would say I was born into politics and am used to having people around me and at home all the time. Naturally, I grew up to be a part of the fraternity too. I have been part of youth parties and currently the president at a ward. But, my outlook towards politics and the way we function is friendly, so much so that I have no enemies. Yes, there are elections and during that time, we compete with opponents, but after that, irrespective of who has won or lost, we are back to being good friends. That has been the norm.
Where do films fit in here?
It has been my dream to be a part of films since childhood. Even as a child, I have been a part of various extra-curricular activities that veer towards the arts too. However, this film — Yugapurusha — has been in the making for quite a while. I know politics like the back of my hand, but I don’t know anyone from the film industry. So breaking into a field like this has been quite an experience. But we are ready to screen this film now.
What is Yugapurusha about? What attracted you to the story?
It is a commercial entertainer, and has a relatable story that revolves around a local guy and his gang of friends. I felt that the characterization of the local guy suited me well and so, I was keen on taking up the role.