Written by: Krutika Behrawala
4 min readMumbaiAug 18, 2012 09:49 AM IST
What reactions have you received for Pooja Bhatt’s Jism 2?
I have received fantastic reactions. It has taken my popularity to another level on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Everyone has appreciated my huge sex appeal. In Jism 2,I tried to explore the sensual aspect of my personality,which came across very well. The results at the box-office were very heartening too.
According to the director Pooja Bhatt,you are the real eye-candy of Jism 2.
Everyone expected Sunny Leone to be the eye-candy. Pooja and her styling team made me look really good in the film. I worked on my body too. The film-makers did not want me to have a body that looked like I had spent four hours in the gym everyday. So I toned it with the help of my trainer. I don’t mind the ‘eye-candy’ tag so much though (laughs).
Were you surprised when you discovered that you would be working with a porn star,Sunny Leone?
No,it was not a surprise. It is up to the director to cast anybody and I would like to do my best. This is Sunny’s first film and the kind of movies that she has done are very different. It wasn’t a cakewalk for her,but I enjoyed working with her.
We see you playing the musical instrument,cello,in the song Maula. Did you learn how to play it?
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Yes,I practised playing cello for a month. I got all the chords right. As an actor,I like to learn different skills.
What is your role in your next release,Heroine?
I play a cricketer who falls in love with the actress,like many cricketers do (laughs). I took up the film because it was a very interesting role. Though,I didn’t get to play a lot of cricket on the sets,there are some really good scenes,which I hope have come out well.
You have been flooded with offers this year. In Murder 3,you have replaced Emraan Hashmi who has been a constant in the Murder franchise. Is that a feather in your cap?
We’ll know that once the movie is out. Murder 3 is a big brand and the movie is totally for the masses. I am very happy to be cast in the film. I am having a good run and as an actor,I am evolving with the variety of roles coming my way. I am shooting for John Day with Naseeruddin Shah,Shooter,an action-packed film directed by Vishram Sawant who launched me in D. Then,around October-November,I start shooting for Unglee,Karan Johar’s production to be directed by Rensil D’Silva.
Which film was the turning point in your career?
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It started with Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster took the cause further. I also received a lot of appreciation from critics for my character in Jannat 2. It was directors like Milan Luthria and Tigmanshu Dhulia who turned it around for me. Bhattsaab,too,had immense faith in me.
Do you fear being typecast as the guy who only plays serious,grey-shade characters?
What’s wrong with that? I don’t feel typecast. It is my forte as an actor. There are hardly any actors in my age group who can do that. I enjoy that aspect of playing the dramatic hero in movies.
You seem to be okay doing cameos,too,like in Cocktail where you played Diana Penty’s husband.
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Yeah,I did that for the director,Homi Adajania. It has done great business too. With a film like that,many more people have been exposed to my work. As an actor,it is all about clicking with the audience. They are the real parameter and my aim is to reach out to as many people as possible.
How do your female fans react to you?
(Laughs) My female fan base has definitely grown a lot more especially after Jism 2. I get letters,fan mail and flying kisses wherever I go!
