/> Trust Naseeruddin Shah to come up with surprises all the time.

So far in real life he has refused to dye his hair or beard. But now Naseer is all set to look 18 years younger for debutant director Abhishek Choubey's Ishqiya.

Laughs Naseer, "That's right I'm supposed to be this 40-year old rake doing naughty things, like wooing the neighbourhood widow Vidya Balan. Giving me competition in the endeavour is my screen-bhanja Arshad Warsi. So my character has to really pull up his socks to vie for the lady's attentions."

To look like a suitable suitor for Vidya Naseer has gone for a leaner look, shaved off his beard and dyed his hair.

"I've never really believed in such vanity in real life. But my character definitely does have to be an eligible 40-year old for Vidya's sake, " he jokes from Vai where he's shooting for Abhishek's film. "I'm having the time of my life here in Vai. Ishqiya gives me a chance for a change of pace in many ways."

Vishal Bhardwaj who produces Ishqiya also shot Kaminey with Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in Vai. Ealier Vishal had shot his Omkara in the same mountainous resort on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Vishal too has given an all-new look to his Kaminey leading man Shahid Kapoor.

The chemistry between Naseer and Vidya in Vai crackes and hisses with camaraderie. Vidya is on-record declaring Naseer to be her favourite actor.

"Please put this on -record. Vidya is a really troublesome co-star. And Arshad is such a method actor he spends hours preparing for a scene, " Naseer jokes and then adds, "They're honestly great fun to work with. I've never played anything like this character before."

About his latest release Naseer says, "It's sad Shoot On Sight was dubbed into Hindi. It should never have. The director Jagmohan Mundhra is here in Vai shooting for another film. We had dinner the other night. He seems quite unhappy about the fate of Shoot On Sight."