In the second and concluding part of an exclusive conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Himesh Reshammiya talks about his professional career being modeled on Kishore Kumar's and why Karzzzz is indeed a crucial project in his acting career. Over to Himesh!

It just came to my notice that Kishore Kumar started his career as an actor before moving to singing and then composing. You seem to have taken the route from the other end.
Yes, I too was informed about this very recently by a friend of mine who is a well wisher. He told me that Kishore da and my journey was similar though the starting point and destination were the other way round.

What can I say about this? He has been my idol for over the years. I can just feel good that somewhere I have been able to have my professional life on the same lines as his.

Coming to the music of the film, I heard that you went back to your music bank to pick and choose your best tunes for Karzzzz. Is that right?
That's true. Fortunately, I always have a ready bank of tunes with me and at last count; it went up to 1500 odd. For the songs of Karzzzz, I referred to the bank and came back with 8 songs. However, there wasn't and can never be a substitute to 'Ik Haseena Thi'. So I kept it intact.

Are you satisfied with the response that your music has fetched?
More than just satisfied! It is quite big today and topping charts all over. Moreover, it continues to grow which is quite heartening since there are as many as 9 tracks in the film.

We have shown most of them in last one and a half months and they are playing all over. The music has a huge repeat value. While the film would feature all the nine songs, 'Dhoom' would mainly come as a part of the end credits title roll.

Talking about music, while 'Ik Haseena Thi' is of course the flagship number of Karzzzz, is there any other song that one can expect to take home after the film is through?
'Lut Jaoon'. This one acts as a theme song in the film and plays throughout the film's length. It will haunt you for long since it has been placed at just the right strategic places. However, 'Ik Haseena Thi' continues to be the climax track though.

Pyaarelal seems to have taken a liking to your version...
This is one of the rare songs jo maine naak se nahi gaaya! Pyaarelalji acknowledged this fact. He doesn't open up much with people and has kept himself away from the limelight. Still, it was such a great moment to have him call me and congratulate me for 'Ik Haseena Thi'. It gave me a kick.

Recently, Rishi Kapoor also said that he is expecting Karzzzz to be a superhit.
So nice of him. He has played a lover boy for close to three decades and if he says that a film should be a success, it better be. He has been happy about the music as well. Thank God for that. Because if the music here would have failed, mujhe bahaut joote padte!

Himesh, practically speaking, you must be aware that there are quite a few people within and outside the industry who are waiting with a gun in their hand to see how Karzzzz fares. Isn't it scary?
See, this is where the game of majority v/s minority comes in. People will say things but one has to see what's that percentage of people who don't really want you to succeed.

And I don't mind what people feel because it is not just with me but any actor. There would always be detractors. Moreover, this kind of scenario is not just in Bollywood but any other industry. Its fine, it happens!

But in case of Karzzzz, stakes are definitely high.
True, stakes are really huge in case of Karzzzz. It's a well mounted costly movie. And let me confess that the fate of a particular film does impact your next film as well. I have Kajrare coming in February 2009 which only makes Karzzzz further special.

You have been underselling yourself when it comes to your acting, dancing or sheer looks. But somewhere in your heart, are you waiting to give an explosive answer to all your detractors in case Karzzzz turns out to be a huge success?
Why should I be doing that? I don't see any need for that because there is no point to prove at all. If Karzzzz is a success, I will only be looking at growing further as an actor, probably concentrate more on my looks and improve my dancing skills.

Every movie is an examination and you can't bask in the glory of the success of your film by tom-tomming about it for years. You have to move on and prove yourself all over again and this is what I aspire to do.

By projecting yourself as a common man, are you modeling yourself on Rajnikanth who has stayed on to be the darling of the masses for decades now?
Arrey, aisa to main soch bhi nahi sakta! I can't even think of coming close to him in any ways. I idolize and worship him. He is the biggest star that India has and I am not even 0.01% of what he is.

Last but not the least, you had mentioned yesterday that plastic surgery was perhaps the only option for you to look better on screen. Is that seriously your next resort?
Arrey, usse bhi kitni improve hogi meri shakal. Jo hai so usse rehne do! It is now that people are getting used to my face, so why confuse them further? (smiles)