by Subhash K Jha

Wanted...A cool conventional romantic love story where Riteish will have have a leading lady to romance.

Not that he's tired of the kool comic Masti and Dhamaal that his career is caught in. "On the contrary, it's great fun."

But right here right now, Riteish is revved up about his new avatar. "Darna Zaroori Hai was my second film with Ramu..actually third if you count Mr Ya Ms which he didn't direct. And it was my first time with Mr Bachchan.

I'm lucky enough to have fulfilled the dream of working with him so early in my career. I never knew horror could be such a pleasure. I don't know whether Amitji has done horror before. For me it was the first time. I didn't have to do much except react to his presence. He made the horror look so real ! We were doing sync sound.

And the set was so quiet it added to the eerie feeling. Yeah, it was fun. And having Ramu as a director is a two-way pleasure zone. You learn about cinema on and off camera. He knows so much about movies. I love chatting with him. He's so persuasive that I begin to question my own opinions. Hopefully I'll be working with him soon again."

He's grateful to Ramu for not casting him as the funny guy. "Everyone thinks of casting me in comic situations after Kya Kool Hain Hum, Masti and Bluff Master. ...Not that I mind being merged with mirth. It just so happened that my comedies were successful.

So naturally I was seen a suitable candidate for the comic. That's fine. Because being funny is fun, specially since I get to be funny in different ways each time. I mean you can't compare my role in Masti with Bluff Master, or the forthcoming Dhamaal.

Riteish's buddy Sajid Khan has also directed an episode of Darna Zaroori Hai. "But no regrets. Because I'm already doing Sajid's film Hey Baby. It's a family film with funny moments. It's certainly not an out-and-out comedy like my forthcoming Dhamaal. Again in Anubhav Sinha's Cash I get do a non-comic turn. That's an action-adventure."

Riteish admits he misses being in a conventional romantic film. "I started my career with a romantic film Tujhe Meri Kasam. But in the last four-five years I don't remember seeing a conventional romantic film. I wish I could do a romantic film. But I'm not in the position to decide what I could do.

I can only choose from what's offered to me. I'm not in the position to decide what to do. I'm working. But I'm not working towards any particular goal. I'm doing what seems right for me."

Off- hour activities? "I 've a running business for architecture. I keep checking on the projects. I'm not able to give it much time. Partying? Sometimes. But I'm a major movie buff. I go to the movie theatre to watch practically every film that releases. As Ramu says, to make a film you only need to be a movie buff. So who knows?"