Rahul Bose, who has always impressed with his power-packed performances and infectious enthusiasm for realistic cinema, is all praise for Mallika Sherawat with whom he co-stars in "Pyaar Ke Side Effects".

"People have a tendency to focus too much on the past. I don't understand why people dwell in the past. I am very happy with the project and excited about the film. It has got nothing to do with Mallika's characters in the past. I am just not concerned or bothered about her past. I have spoken to her, we have had workshops and I believe she has done a great job in 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects'."

Rahul plays a DJ who is head over heels in love with Mallika but avoids marriage with her.

"He is funny, witty, charming and popular with his friends. He is madly in love with his girlfriend played by Mallika. She wants to marry him but like every other man he dreads marriage and is shit scared of it."

Rahul admits that in real life too most men are scared of commitments.

"Most men are basically uncomfortable with issues like commitment and fidelity. One has to be totally committed and faithful in a relationship, which I believe most men fear."

Rahul says his performance in "Kaalpurush" is his best till date. The film will release sometime this year.

"I was very happy with my performance in 'English August', 'Mr And Mrs Iyer' and 'Everybody Says I'm Fine' but so far I think 'Kaalpurush' has been my best shot.

"I was not very satisfied with my performance in 'Bombay Boys'. I feel I did not do complete justice to my character in the film. I'd also love to do an out and out action thriller."

Apart from essaying characters brilliantly on screen, he also plays myriad roles off-screen and one of them is fighting for social causes.

"I believe the presence of a celebrity either helps a cause or harms it. If you can bring or generate attention to a cause, it certainly helps a cause. Moreover, only if one is genuinely interested, that is only if you sincerely mean it, you should go ahead with it."

He is also an avid sportsperson and just returned from the triangular International Rugby Board series. He was representing the Indian rugby team.

"I started playing rugby in school around 24 years ago and since then I gradually developed an interest in the game. I enjoy it to the hilt. I got selected for the Bombay Gymkhana Club when I was 17. India was recognised as a rugby playing nation in 1998, and since then I have been playing for India."

He prefers working in movies to an advertising job.

"The reason I quit my job as a creative director at Rediffusion was because somewhere I enjoyed acting more than advertising," said Rahul who is not comfortable with the idea of singing and dancing in mainstream films.

"It doesn't make any sense to me. 'Chameli' was not a mainstream movie in my opinion. In fact, it did not have any element of a mainstream film I'd say. 'Takshak' was a little more mainstream compared to 'Chameli' I feel."

This year he has four releases lined up.

"I have four films slated to release this year, which are completely different from each other. One is 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects', the second one is a two man psychological thriller titled 'The Whisperers' with Manoj Bajpai. Then there is a Hollywood film about friendship and passion called 'Kerala' and lastly there's 'Kaalpurush', a Bengali art film.