After Armaan in 2003 and then Pyaar Ke Side Effects in 2006, you will now be seen in A Wednesday. Why such a long gap?
Well the only reason for that is that no good, interesting scripts came my way (smiles)

A Wednesday is quite an interesting title, so what is the film all about?
It's a very fast-paced, edge-of-the seat thriller set in Bombay. It's called A Wednesday because all the action and story unfolds within one Wednesday afternoon.

What is your character in the film?
I am playing a police officer. He goes by the book and is very dedicated. He is the commissioner's (played by Anupam Kher) right hand.

My character is sort of a contrast to Jimmy Shergill's character (an Anti Terrorist Squad officer) who is far more flamboyant and is a maverick. He doesn't mind breaking the law and doesn't go by the rules whereas my character thinks, analyses, and then acts on any situation.

A Wednesday has some really talented actors like Naseer Saab, Anupam Kher and Jimmy Shergill. How was it getting to share screen space with such actors?
Well I have always looked up to Naseer Saab. I have even been lucky enough to do some acting workshops with him earlier.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to be in the same scene in the film as Naseer saab is more or less on his own in this film. Naseer Saab is such a generous person. Whenever he gets the opportunity, he shares his knowledge on the craft.

He is not only very passionate about acting but even teaching acting to anyone who is willing to learn. Even with Anupam Kher Saab, I had a smooth sailing. He kept a light atmosphere on the sets.

Never ever did I get the feeling that he is intimidating his co-stars or anything like that. As for Jimmy, he is very dedicated and a thorough professional. He has always maintained a certain level of quality in his work in whatever films he has done.

How did you bag this role?
Neeraj Pandey (the director) had tried to call me earlier also when I was doing television but due to some reason we couldn't work then.

He again called me for this role in A Wednesday and when I asked him, Why Me?? He said, "Because you a decent enough actor and I wanted to work with you earlier" (smiles).

A Wednesday is director Neeraj Pandey's debut film. How was the experience working with him?
Neeraj Pandey is very confident. The way he has gone about things, it doesn't seem like this is his first film.

From Day 1, he always knew what he wanted and how he wanted it. Even the script was a very sleek, tight 60 page script as compared to the 120 page scripts which we usually see. I don't think he overshot a lot.

Whatever he shot is there in the film, none of it is unused which I think is quite exceptional for a first time filmmaker. Usually they are insecure and tend to overshoot but not Neeraj.

Could you share any memorable incidents which took place during the shoot?
There was this funny incident which took place. Once we were shooting at CST station and it so happened that even Naseer Saab had some shots there.

We were relaxing in the vanity van and just before going for the shot, Naseerji asked me to stay back and watch a DVD. I asked him "Which film?" He said "Rush Hour 3".

I was very surprised and wondered if Naseer Saab is a Jackie Chan fan. He said "No...nothing like that... it's a very good film and just watch it.

Chris Tucker is very good in the film". I was taken aback as we usually associate Naseer Saab as someone who may like only serious, hard hitting cinema and here he was asking me to watch Rush Hour 3.

I took it as if it was an instruction from a teacher. Although half way through the film I almost slept (laughs).

What kind of research did you do for your role? Did you meet and interact with any with real life cops?
Not really...Only someone who has never met or seen a cop ever would need to do research for this role. The character is someone who goes by the law and because of that he comes across as someone who is submissive. He is very obedient and would do whatever his seniors would tell. He sees himself as a commissioner 10 years down the line. He wants to climb the ladder. I have seen police officers all my life. My father retired as the Chief Justice of the High Court. I have seen how they behave in front of their seniors so I didn't really have to do any extra research. The film's posters put up across the city show Naseeruddin Shah with a WANTED tag on him...Why so?
Well ...because he is the antagonist and it's him whom we are chasing throughout the film.

One more film on the train blasts Mumbai Meri Jaan just released recently. Don't you think it will affect the prospects of your film?
Let me make it clear. Our film is not on the train blasts. Our film is pure fiction. It is not based on any real life incident. The credit goes entirely to Neeraj Pandey for coming up with an original story.

And from what I know, even Mumbai Meri Jaan is not on the train blasts as much as it is about what happened to the city post the blasts incident. So the two films aren't similar in that sense.

When there are already so much blasts, terrorism happening around us, do you think people would be interested to watch A Wednesday?
Most of our films are totally disconnected with reality.

Here is a film which doesn't have a huge budget but what is most important is that when people watch the film they will be able to relate and identify with the proceedings.

If you don't identify with what you are watching, there is a disconnect. And terrorism has always been in the news in some form or the other. It's not something which has happened only now.

You have been a successful model, a T.V. actor and now you are seen in films. What gives you the ultimate high and how do you manage your time?
I have stopped doing Television altogether mainly because the writing and treatment is so bad in television these days that I don't see myself in front of the camera. Ultimate high is when say a colleague or an actor / director whom I respect sees my work and has something good to say about it.

The industry has seen many new and talented directors make their mark in the last few years. Any directors that you would like to work with?
I would love to work with people like Vishal Bharadwaj and Anurag Kashyap

Finally on a parting note, give us 3 good reasons to watch A Wednesday?
Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher and a finally a good thriller with no song and dance.