8216;I Cycle to Work8217;

You8217;ve been missing in action for a while now?I was wrapping up my films. I8217;ve almost completed Musafir and Ramgopal Varma8217;s ...

You8217;ve been missing in action for a while now?
I was wrapping up my films. I8217;ve almost completed Musafir and Ramgopal Varma8217;s Galti Se and Jaanbhooj Ke. I was not talking to the media because I had nothing new to say. I have never been too much in the limelight. I don8217;t do ads or music videos. My policy is lesser the exposure, the better it is for an actor.

Ramgopal Varma8217;s films sound exciting. Aren8217;t they basically the same film with a different ending?
Yes, only the last 35 minutes are different. The motivations of both the films are different. I think it8217;s the first time something like this is being attempted in India. It8217;s quite challenging which is good for me because I do my best when I am challenged. I8217;ve always taken pangas in my life and most often they8217;ve paid off. It8217;s ironic but whenever I8217;ve done anything conventional, I8217;ve fallen flat on my face.

Musafir puts you in the driver8217;s seat again?
Oh, definitely. The film has a new kind of atmosphere and energy. This is the first time that I am working with both the Sanjays Gupta and Dutt, Sameera Reddy and Mahesh Manjrekar. So expect some good, unpredictable stuff.

Weren8217;t you apprehensive about signing Musafir because it8217;s a Dutt camp film?
You have to trust people. I like to go with my conviction. When I trust someone, I take the chance.

The film does have some benefits. Sanjay Dutt has sung a song to you in the film?
After having Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit singing to me for years, it was a welcome change to have Sanju do the honours. I think Tezdaar will become the film8217;s trump card.

Your co-stars keep getting younger: Kareena Kapoor, Sameera Reddy and Lara Dutta8230;
Not to forget Nandana Sen. It8217;s just a coincidence. But an interesting one. I think younger actresses have more zest for work. For them, it8217;s about life and death.

We8217;ve heard that these days you are cycling to film shoots?
Let me give the devil his due! It was Salman Khan who inspired me to take up cycling. Salman8217;s funda is simple: Due to our hectic schedules, we miss working out but, if we cycle to work, then we save time and also enjoy a kind of cardio regime. It takes me one hour to reach a shoot by car. On a cycle it takes one hour 10 minutes.

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Also for Ramu8217;s films, I play a common man, so to relate to the character I decided to travel by a cycle. I am not saying that I am a great method actor or something but let8217;s just say that I can8217;t step out of a Mercedes and play a common man. Cycling just makes things easier.

No Entry unites you with two Khans8212;Salman and Fardeen?
No Entry is perhaps the most entertaining film of my career. It8217;s one of my better films. Sure, it is one of those typical commercial films but I had to do it to keep the ghar ka chulah burning.

Your daughter Sonam is assisting Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
It8217;s too early to comment on her. I want her to concentrate on her work and don8217;t want any media exposure. I want her to learn the job as an ordinary assistant.

You have also launched a website.
You won8217;t believe it but I get around 300-400 e-mails a day. It8217;s my direct contact with my fans. It8217;s only for them.