He hates love stories

But you do play a flamboyant gangster,Shoaib.
There are two stages of Shoaib’s life in the film. In the first half he plays a 27-year-old street kid from Dongri and wears simpler street clothes. As he moves up the ladder in the crime world,he becomes more flashy. The style of the ’70s was really out there. So I wore printed,bling-y and colourful shirts that otherwise I wouldn’t be caught dead in,but it was all fun. The handlebar moustache was a bit tricky though. I had to shave it off to shoot for Mohit Suri’s Crook and then wait for it to grow back again so I could finish the Once Upon schedule. And recently,while wrapping up the patchwork shoot,I had to use the stick-on variety that feels disgusting.

Have you managed to create a niche for yourself in the industry?
My strength lies in thrillers and characters that are edgy,dark and unpredictable. I am not a rom-com guy; I just can’t stand that genre. My wife makes me watch them,but I tend to fall asleep.

But Indians love both romance and comedy.
Romance is great but there is a way it can be shown on screen. I have a problem with romance when it goes into dream space. Hence I don’t see myself doing such films either. I like my characters fleshed out,real and not the candyfloss variety. Romance is too mild for me; my body won’t allow me to do that.

Isn’t there a conflict while choosing movies between the kind of movies you like to do and the sort that people like watching?
It’s a blend of both. You have to do what people like—you don’t make a film for yourself to watch it on DVD. Every actor gets associated with a certain genre. It is good to step out of that comfort zone and try out new characters,like I am attempting comedy with Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji. It is also important to return to the comfort zone as that is what people want to see you in.

Despite an excellent track record,you are not out there and visible. Doesn’t that hamper success?
You confuse visibility with success. I have gained enough acclaim for my work and if I keep at it,the fan base will grow. As for visibility,it doesn’t always equate with success. Anyone can pay and be in limelight. But that does not always mean one is popular. My films get the kind of opening that the films of more “visible” actors don’t. Success and popularity is to see the theatres filling up for a film for a 9 am Friday show,which happens for my films.

Gangster’s rap
* Goodfellas
* The Godfather
* Once Upon A Time in America
* The Departed
* Scarface