Even as speculation is rife about Hrithik Roshan worming his way into Ram Gopal Varma`s new film, the actor who is supposedly affected, Vivek Oberoi, denies any such move on Roshan`s part. "Hrithik would never stoop to lowering his price to push me out of a film. He doesn`t need to. I think he is a fantastic actor. Besides he and I are great friends," says Vivek.

Though the actor hasn`t signed any new film and is waiting for the popular response to three of his releases - E Niwas` Dum, Shaad Ali`s Saathiya and Rajat Mukherjee`s Road - he has already been offered two prestigious projects- Vidhu Vinod Chopra`s Kyon, Hona Hai Na?, with the Big B and Ash in the lead, and Zoya Akhtar`s debut film as director with, hold your breath, Kajol. Zoya`s film is expected to roll by end-2003.

He defends Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar and Ramu. "Nobody played dirty. They know their job too well to let a small fry, a mere one-film-old actor, decide the fate of their films. I have great regard for all of them. I am given to understand that the films they had in mind with me are not the ones they eventually launched with other stars," he rationalises. There`s something to be said about this guy`s upbringing. He sure is a grounded young man.