/> After doing the experimental No Smoking and the semi-experimental Goal John Abraham wants to make it very clear that he isn't heading deliberately into the experimental mode.

"I'm not aiming to be an arthouse actor or anything so lofty. I know my limitations. And I've been working my way around them.

To me doing a No Smoking is as valid as doing a Goal. And now my next two films again take my career on an unpredictable course. Karan Johar's love story with Abhishek, Priyanka and me is a light- hearted romantic film.

Sriram Raghavan's love story with Aishwarya Rai is also a romantic film, though far more intense than the other one...At 33 I feel I've made my own place. But I still need to do a lot more."

John who turned 33 this month is not the least daunted by the adverse reviews for his experimental film No Smoking.

"It may have got a drubbing from the local critics. But it got glowing reviews from the international press including prestigious magazines like Sight & Sound and Hollywood Reporter.

Yes, I agree the film came across as esoteric to the masses. But No Smoking was never meant to be a film for mass conumption. Just because it features names that have a clout at the boxoffice you can't convert a niche film into a mainstream product."

No Smoking has made John wiser. "I've realized every film needs nurturing till long after release. There was no need for an item song in No Smoking. We should've marketed it the way it was meant to. I feel the film never got its audience."

He's sickened by the way a section of the industry rejoices when a film fails. "Look at Saawariya. The way people reacted to it was sad and sick.

I think every filmmaker should be given the freedom to make the kind of film he wants. And we actors should be encouraged to explore new possibilities rather than being in the safe zone constantly."

John is very happy with the outcome of his last release Goal. "Apart from the fact that the film was being unneceassarily compared with Chak De India which is a cult film, we're all very happy with Goal.

We achieved what we set out to. In fact recently twenty of my friends came down from abroad. I took them to Fame Adlabs to watch Goal. It was great fun."

So what did he do for his birthday? "The usual. I like to spend my time with my family. And if that makes me boring, so be it. I'd much rather eat propely sleep regular hours and lead a regimented life than be a wild party animal who looks 50 at 35."

Then as an after -thought John adds, "Of course looking young and healthy isn't what success is about. At the end of day you could be the best-looking guy in town and still a loser."

No new films except the Karan Johar project to be directed by Tarun Mansukhani and the Sriram Raghavan project.

"But I'm constantly searching for projects I feel instinctively good about. The search for the perfect vehicle will continue until I'm 64....maybe more."

John hasn't lost his sense of humour. "I think all my film take longer than usual to register. Critics should wait six months before drubbing my next release."