It seems you love playing a college student-be it ‘RDB' or ‘3 Idiots'. How comfortable you are playing a college goer in your 40s?
People say I still look 18...no, sweet 16! (Laughs)

Okay. So, what goes behind this teenager look?
I had followed a strict diet for ‘3 Idiots' and when you lose weight automatically you look younger. And also I drink a lot of water...4 litres of water a day at least. That keeps the skin fresh and I play a lot of games like badminton and all. That's all.

What's your New Year resolution?
You know when I was doing ‘Bharat darshan' for two weeks, wherever I went, I got lovely food. So I ate a lot; especially in Kolkata at Sourav dada's (Sourav Ganguly) house, the food ...the sweet dishes were too good! So now I have become a ‘rasgulla' myself. So my New Year resolution is to lose weight and get back to shape.

Why do most of your films stir up controversies-be it ‘Lagaan', ‘RDB', ‘Mangal Pandey' and the latest ‘3 Idiots'?
It's for the media to tell. Don't believe in everything that you write. (Winks and smiles)

But the Chetan Bhagat controversy is not media-made. What do you have to say on that?
We have exactly followed the agreement that Vinodji (Vidhu Vinod Chopra) and the production house had with Chetan Bhagat. His name shows in the last rolling credits along with others.

Still Bhagat is very upset....
Yes...I know that he is very upset. Even I am upset with him. As an uninterested party, this is my opinion that it is unfortunate that Chetan is behaving in this manner. Credit should be given where it is due. Do you know who Abhijat Joshi is?

He is the one who wrote ‘Laage Raho Munnabhai' and worked on the script of ‘3 Idiots' for three years. The due credit has been given to him by the producer and director.

He is not as well-known as Chetan Bhagat, who is a big star in the world of writing. Chetan is trying to get the credit away from Abhijat, which I am very upset about.

Did you ever talk to Chetan Bhagat on the credit issue?
One day Chetan came to the sets of ‘3 Idiots'. I told him-‘Chetan, I have not read your book. But I will read it sometime.' In reply, he said: ‘You don't need to read it at all because the story that Abhijat and Raju (Rajkumar Hirani) has written, is very different from my book.' These are his words...I am a witness. Now that the film has become successful, I think he is trying to get some publicity.

Starting point...idea was ‘Five Point Someone'...but the script was changed entirely. If you have seen the film, pick out all the 15-20 highlight scenes of the film, and show me if any one of them is similar to the book. No one should be confused that Abhijat is the writer of our film. He also wrote ‘Laage Raho Munnabhai'...was that also copied from Chetan Bhagat! Don't get confused by a person trying to get publicity.

Okay. Let's come back to lighter topics...
Thanks a lot...it's no point wasting time on a person like Chetan Bhagat.

Whatever you touch turns to gold. What's the funda of your success?
The funda of success is don't think of success but excellence. If you think of success, you may face consequences which are often not nice.

You have always experimented with your looks in all films. Which is your favourite look that you sported so far?
I think ‘Ghajini' look was good...the short hair and scar. Also I like ‘Mangal Pandey'...big moustaches!

What are your next projects?
Next project is ‘Dhobi Ghaat'...shooting is completed; the post-production part is left. It will release in the second half of 2010. I am playing one of the four lead roles in the film. I won't sign take any acting project this year...as a producer I will release three of my films (‘Dhobi Ghaat', ‘Delhi Belly' and ‘Peepli Live') instead.

How is it being directed by your wife Kiran Rao in ‘Dhobi Ghaat'?
I enjoyed a lot working with Kiran. She is very clear as a director as to what she wants.

Are you working with Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Bombay Velvet'?
I don't know who are working in ‘Bombay Velvet' because I am going through the script right now.

Any plans for directing films?
Right now I will take two months off to spend time with my family. After that I will start reading scripts that I can take up as an actor, producer or potential director. It depends on what come my way.

As a viewer, what kind of films you like watching?
I like any genre of film as a viewer as long as the script is good and the film is well-made; except horror. I am scared of horror films. And also I don't like too much violence.

Are you a movie buff?
Actually I am a person who reads more than watching films. In general, my film viewing is much less than it ought to be. I should be watching more films as a person of cinema. I think my upbringing is such...in my childhood my parents didn't use to allow me watch films; six months one film. And we had to take permission...romantic films not allowed. My parents didn't allow me to watch ‘Bobby'.

Do you have a dream role?
Actually I wanted to do characters of Mahabharata. But I feel it's not right for an actor to choose favourite roles, but script.

You are also accused of ghost-directing films. What do you have to say about that?
Completely wrong accusation; I plead not guilty, because, very honestly, I am not interested in doing work for others. I choose my directors with a lot of care after I am totally sure that I want to work with that person. When I want to direct a film, I will direct my own; why should I ghost-direct for somebody?

Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan-who do you think is the No 1 in Bollywood?
Dilip Kumar is No 1 for me...I am his biggest fan. I am a huge fan of Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) too. I don't believe in these numbers. I find these very childish. Each actor is unique. Also there is nothing called big film or small film. What will you call ‘Taare Zameen Par'-big or small?