"Yes, most debutantes start with a commercial venture. That masala film is finally happening. It's Yashraj Film directed by Kabeer Khan with John Abraham and me."
But Kabeer Khan's earlier film for Yashraj Kabul Express hardly shows him capable of out and out commercialism.
Neil agrees. "It may not be a standard formula film. I'm doing another out-and-out commercial film Freeze with Eros to be directed by Jehangir Surti.
A very interesting concept, and I was kept in the loop from the beginning. For me cinema isn't just about coming on the sets, saying my lines and going away.
That's an out-and-out masala film with songs and dances. And plenty of special effects."
Neil has in the meanwhile returned the signing amount for Tigmanshu Dulia's proposed film Good Night.
" I did Johnny Gaddar for free. To me being part of movies that matter is very important. I had to opt out of Tigmanshu Dhulia's Good Night because the script wasn't ready.
I need to read the script at least twenty times before I imbibe my character. By God's grace I don't have to work for money. My father and I are very simple down-to-earth people. We don't know how to lobby for ourselves.
What happened with Tigmanshu Dhulia was very disturbing. I'm not here to create controversies, only to do movies."
Brightening up Neil says, "I assisted at Yashraj Films for four years. It feels good to be working with them. It's like coming home."