/> After Apna Sapna Money Money, Hey Babby and Dhamaal, De Taali has got Riteish's comic timing a fresh round of applause.

But with the grin comes the grim. With the laughter of the comedies Riteish's chances of being accepted as the conventional leading man recede with alarming celerity.

The latest setback for Riteish's plans of mainstream hero-giri is the heroine crisis in writer-turned Milap Jhaveri's Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai.

This is the only romantic lead on Riteish's hands. Ayesha Takiya who happily plays Riteish's bum chum in De Taali (and the romantic lead with Aftab Shivdasani) is no longer playing the alien from Venus who lands into earthling Riteish's embrace.

With just a couple of months to go before the film was to go on the floors Riteish's lone stab at romantic heroism is in a bit of a crisis.

He is man enough to admit comedy has been allotted as his forte.

"I'm aware it's the romantic lead that's considered the conventional hero's part in our films. I did try a serious role in Cash. But that didn't work.

In fact after I made my debut as a conventional hero in Tujhe Meri Kasam I did another conventional lead in Out Of Control for Vashu Bhagnani and a boys' comedy Masti with Indra Kumar. The second worked, first didn't. That's the way it is. I guess audiences like me in comedies."

Riteish is in no hurry to leave his comic niche behind. In fact the humorous ante just got raised.

"I'm doing a goofy all-out comedy with my friend Sajid Khan. I wonder who'd have killed whom first if Sajid hadn't cast me again.

It's called Houseful. Sajid's first film Heyy Babyy had me doing serious dramatic scenes along with the comedy. But Houseful will have lots more of the funny stuff. This time Sajid, Akshay Kumar and I will really put all the stops."

Sujoy Ghosh's Alladin where Riteish plays the title role also has a pronounced comic element. "And though I play the title role Mr Bachchan is the whole and soul of the film."

As for Ayesha pulling out of Riteish's one project, there are absolutely no hard feelings here.

Says Riteish, "Ayesha is a fantastic actress. And I had a fantastic time working with her in De Taali. She's such a natural before the camera. She' a fabulous co-star. I hope to work again with her in the near future."

Adds Ayesha, "No I can't do Milap Jhaveri's film because the dates got shifted by two months.

I had already given dates to Nagesh Kukunoor's Tasveer and Prabhu Deva's film Wanted preference dates since these were confirmed in advance. I could do nothing but give up Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai.