Akshaye Khanna is considered to be one of those actors who have kind of distanced themselves from the media. Hence when we got the chance we grabbed it for a candid chat with this versatile actor.

Q: Tell us about your character in 'Naqaab'?
A: 'Naqaab' is a suspense thriller. There have been a lot of suspense thrillers made before but this film is not like those. It is very different from what the Indian audiences has seen before. The story is complex and I cannot explain it to you in words.

I can only tell you that I am playing a character named Karan. He is a person who thinks that struggle is the route to success. Bobby Deol and a newcomer Urvashi Sharma are also a part of this film.

Q: How was it working with Bobby and newcomer Urvashi Sharma?
A: I am very good friends with Bobby. W had worked together in Humraaz. He is a sincere and a good human being. Urvashi is an intelligent girl and also lucky that she has bagged Naqaab as her first film. She has a pivotal role in the film.

Q: Is it so that you were pretty close to Urvashi?
A: Really! I have not heard something of this sort. You are the first one to ask me such a question.

Q: This is your third film with Abbas Mustan. Seems you have a pretty good tuning with him?
A: Yes it is true. Abbas Mustan duo is not just a friend of mine but I consider them a family member. They are one of those few directors who know exactly what they want out of me and extract it too. In a similar way, even I understand what they want from me.

Q: Tell us something about your film Race?
A: Shooting is still going on for Race. I would prefer talking about Naqaab rather than Race. We will talk about Race when time comes.

Q: Apart from serious roles, you have also been appreciated in comic roles. Any comedy films in the pipeline?
A: Not yet. I have not signed any comedy film till now. Let's see if a good script comes my way, I might do it.

Q: Any other film with Priyadarshan after Hungama and Hulchul?
A: No not yet.

Q: You had said that there are a few projects that you would not like to associate yourself with....
A: It is a thing of the past and I do not wish to talk about it.

Q: Do you have any complaints or regrets about any of the films that you have done?
A: Complaint and regret are two different things. I do have complaints about a few films but I do not regret doing them, I have learnt a lot from them. That was my learning period and this period comes in every actor and director's life.

A film is made with the efforts of a lot of people. If I was a part of it, I can't just put the blame on some else's shoulders. But what is important for me is how honestly I have done my job.

Q: Some people call you unprofessional and moody...
A: As I told you it is very easy to blame people. What I feel is that before forming an opinion about a person, one must meet the person in person. Then, it is up to them to say what they want to.

Q: You are often compared to your father Vinod Khanna, but you career graph does not seem to be moving like your father's. What would you like to say?
A: What do you want to hear? It was his time and this is mine. More over it is pretty obvious that a child is compared to his or her parent. Even I would do the same.

Q: Do you take his advice while deciding on a role?
A: Yes sometimes I do take his advice but I guess advice is something which you get even if you do not need it or ask for it.

Q: Are you also a part of Yash Raj's Aaja Nach Le?
A: Yes I'm playing a guest role in the film.

Q: You have worked with Madhuri in Mohabbat. Do you find any difference in her since then?
A: I do not find too much of a difference in her. Even today she is as beautiful and talented as she was during Mohabbat. This time too, there was the same happiness working with her as was 10 years ago.

Q: What happen to the film Autograph?
A: I really do not know what happened to the movie. It was a south film.

Q: Are you happy with the way things are happening in your career?
A: Not happy but very happy.

Q: We have heard that you have a lady love in New York?
A: Well, I do not happen to know any girl from New York. Moreover if I ever have a lady love, she would be here in India and not abroad. It is so obvious that since I live here in India, even she has to be from the country. Two love birds should always remain close to each other.

Q: How do you handle rumors around you?
A: I really enjoy rumors around me. When ever I read or hear rumors about me, I feel happy.

Q: Doesn't it affect you?
A: No at all. I only get angry when I get stuck in Mumbai traffic. I do not like the traffic of this city.

Q: Your take on Mumbai?
A: I would say ‘Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan'. There are a lot of problems here but problems are there in every city. Every city has its own problems. Except for the traffic, I have no complaints about Mumbai.

Q: What is your dream role like?
A: I do not have a dream role. It is a dream coming true for me that I'm working as an actor in this industry. I only wish that this dream does not break.

Q: Tell us about your upcoming projects?
A: The films that I'm doing are Race, Shortcut and Gandhi-My Father. The shooting for Shortcut is starting in October. Amrita Rao and Arshad Warsi are also there in the movie. Gandhi- My Father is Anil Kapoor's film. We all know about Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba Gandhi.

But very few know about their four sons. This film is about Gandhiji and his relationship with his eldest son. I'm playing the son here. I cannot tell you more but if you want to know more, you will have to watch the movie.

Q: Is this movie based on the play Mahatma versus Gandhi?
A: Not totally, but yes we have picked up a few parts from it in the movie. - Rajnee Gupta