/> Call it the sign of a newly-found sobriety. Shooting on Goa for Ashwini Dheer's comedy 123, Upen Patel quietly turned 26 yesterday (August 17).

"I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday. Didn't feel the need to. So there was no way the unit would know. I finished my work and now I'm back in Mumbai.

Maybe I'll have a small belated birthday get-together, just for close friends, " says Upen, and admits in the same breath that he doesn't have too many friends, nor, sad to say, a girlfriend at the moment.

Upen Patel's new project with choreographer Ganesh Acharya is called Money Hai To Honey Hai.

Though he's without a 'honey' at the moment, money there seems to be in plenty for Patel.

He has just clinched a deal with a production house for a fee of Rs 1 crore for a film.

The untitled film to be produced by Asthvinayak will be directed by comedy specialist Neeraj Vora. Patel is the first wannashine from the post-Shahid Kapoor generation to have secured the magical remuneration.

Upen is delighted by the turn of events."It's not so much the money but the fact that it proves I'm finally being taken seriously as an actor. When I came from London I had no one to support me.

All I had was my love for Hindi films and my determination to be a star. After a good start there was a lull. But I rode the rough crest thanks to filmmakers like Suneel Darshan and Abbas-Mustan who had faith in me."

Another support system for Upen comes from Suniel Shetty who has offered Upen a comedy called Loot with Govinda."Then of course there's choreographer Ganesh Acharya's second film Money Hai To Honey Hai for producer Kumar Mangat who has signed me for a three-film deal. I couldn't have asked for more."