He thinks she is the best. She thinks they still have the magic. Dev and Subhashree share their excitement with t2 a month ahead of their comeback film Romeo(directed by Sujit Mondal and produced by Shree Venkatesh Films) at Aqua, The Park, over fresh lime soda and light bites...

How does it feel to be back together in Romeo?

Dev: Great! Especially because our last two films,Challenge and Poran Jai Joliya Re, were superhits. Subhashree is a lot more mature and professional now. I’m sure people look forward to seeing us together. We have worked very hard because people will expect a lot from us in Romeo.

Subhashree: I’m very happy. I’ve waited for this for two years. Dev has worked in many other films with other co-stars, but I’ve only had Dev as my co-star. I also feel lucky to have made a comeback with a film like Romeobecause I have a strong role there. The entire film is from the point of view of Pooja (her character inRomeo).

What do both of you play in Romeo?

Dev: Romeo is a family drama. I play, well, as the title suggests, Romeo. He is flamboyant and a Casanova, who doesn’t believe in either relationships or the institution of marriage. The character isn’t very different from what I have done in my past films, but it’s different because I have projected myself differently. The character has got substance and has taught me a lot, like I should always be responsible towards my parents. In Romeo, people will not get to see the macho hero that Dev usually is. I play a very simple guy next door.

Subhashree: Romeo has very few actors and that’s why there’s a lot of scope for performance. My role, too, is of a simple village girl, Pooja. She is instrumental in changing Romeo.

Was there a lot of pressure to perform in Romeosince it’s being touted as Dev-Subhashree’s comeback film?

Dev: Yes. We are aware that too many questions will be asked after the film’s release. But you know what... I’m under pressure for every film I do because I believe that each film is my last. Thank god, I have a good rapport with Subhashree! Because of the two-year gap, I was initially a bit nervous to work with her, but both of us were motivated to do good work.

Subhashree: Chaap chhilo. Having delivered two hits earlier made things all the more difficult. That’s why we worked so hard for Romeo.

Dev: Yes, we were supposed to start shooting in January but we started only in March.

Subhashree: We did a month-long workshop, we changed our look, our style of dialogue delivery, we lost weight… Romeo is a very stylish film. We have given our 100 per cent to bring back the magic of Challengeand Poran Jai…

Dev: Cinematographers Mohan and Kumud Verma have done a great job in the film. Plus, we shot in Cape Town and the song sequences look great. But the USP of the film is its social message. It’s not another Paglu, which is full of masti. Romeo will make people think. After watching the film, people will say, “Boss, this is my story!”

Why the two-year gap despite two hits?

Dev: See, casting is neither my department, nor is it my decision who will work opposite me. I don’t take so much pressure while doing a film. I prefer to concentrate on myself. Maybe the producers were not confident about our pairing. Good that even after two years, we got the opportunity to work together and we’ve given our best. But after watching the film, if people say we were bad, we’ll try and re-invent ourselves. But touch wood, everything is positive so far. People are writing to us on Twitter and Facebook that they can’t wait to see us again.

Subhashree: Exactly. It’s not in our hands. I don’t know when we will work together again…..

Dev: Ami jani! We’ve worked together in Khokababu (yet to release)!

Subhashree: Yes. But we don’t know in which film we will be paired after that (giggles).

But off screen, you remained “good friends”...

Dev: See, everyone I work with becomes my friend. Besides, Subhashree and I did the maximum number of shows together. I could understand Subhashree’s pain of not working for two years because I too had gone through a phase where, despite a hit (I Love You), I had no work. But I always knew that Subhashree was talented and she would make a comeback. I am happy for her. I don’t socialise much. I have just four friends — Monida (Mahendra Soni), Shrikantda (Mohta, Shree Venkatesh Films) Rane (Nishpal Singh, Surinder Films) and Arijitda (Dutta, Priya cinema).

Subhashree: I can’t even give you four names! I think more than talking about our friendship, the audience will be interested in our work.

Dev: Yes, I just concentrate on my work. I know people say that I am going around with such and such girl, but believe me, kaaj is the only thing I have in mind now. I hope Subhashree gets appreciation for her work in the film. And I hope I get appreciated too!(Laughs).

Dev, you’ve done the item number Ami Romeo in Romeo. Aren’t you tired of doing item songs in every film?

Dev: That’s the demand now. The masses love it. I am a mass hero and I have to do item numbers for my front-row fans.

Subhashree: I think an item number is typical of Dev. I loved Dev in two item songs —Pantey taali (Chirodini… Tumi Je Amar) and Khokababu (Shedin Dekha Hoyechhilo).

Since the title of the film is Romeo, how much of a Romeo is Dev in real life?

Dev: Not at all. I tried flirting with girls in college but I was always unsuccessful! Now I am 28 and I don’t think I can be a playboy anymore...

Subhashree: Yes. Dev is very shy!

Dev: Oh Subhashree, I’m feeling shy now!

Subhashree: (looking into his eyes) Yes, the first day we met, you were shy, Dev!