He has lost many friends since Ram Gopal Varma took him under his wing, but Mohit Ahlawat says he doesn't care. He is happy being the filmmaker's blue-eyed boy.

While he's confident and cautious, sections of the media have also called his behaviour abrasive and arrogant. Ahlawat, whom Varma describes as a "potential superstar", doesn't know what hit him.

Sounding extremely guarded and polite, the "James" star tells: "A journalist called me when I was groggy. I hadn't slept the whole night...I told him I was in no condition to talk.

"Later when I was on the way to gym, he called me again and asked me some very routine questions, which I've been asked repeatedly. I answered them as best as I could. The next thing I knew I was portrayed as an arrogant conceited brat. Sir, I'm just a newcomer. What right do I have to act high and mighty?"

The rumours have taken him by surprise.

"There was a rumour some time back that I got into a brawl in a pub. I never go to a pub! I party, maybe once a month. My fiancée is so upset that I don't take her anywhere. I prefer to stay home.

"Would I spoil things for myself by getting into fights so early in my career? I don't think people like the idea of an outsider getting the kind of break that I have. Ever since I started working with Varma, I've lost so many friends. People have changed like hell. But I'm happy being Varma's blue-eyed boy."

"Even if Varma showers me with high praise, I've yet to prove myself to the audience. For myself, I must admit I am happy watching myself on screen.

"For the last one year, all I've done is work, work, work...nothing else. I've been getting offers from outside Varma productions. But I just wanted to stay focussed on 'James'. Varma has a lot of hopes pinned on me. I hope I don't let him down."

His mentor thinks Mohit is complete star material. The debutant laughs nervously. "I wouldn't know about that. I hope he's right. It's interesting how Varma discovered me, a boy from Panipat with no connections within the industry.

"I came to live in Mumbai six years ago to stay with my close friend Bhushan Kumar of T Series - he and his family are like family to me. I had no plans of being in the movies. I wanted to join my dad in his business. He's into exports. But then I thought of a career in acting."

Before Varma, Mohit knocked on many doors in Bollywood.

"And one person who was always encouraging was Sunil Shetty. He had plans for me. In the meantime, I met my dream filmmaker, Varma. Like other strugglers I went to his office with my photographs. Those were very small-sized pictures. He said he wanted larger pictures and that I send them for negative roles. I wasn't really keen on doing negative roles. But then Varma called Bhushan Kumar asking about me. Then I got my pictures done. That was it. Varma told me I was doing no other film except his."

Mohit was already fully trained when Varma spotted him. "I was good in action. But I was trained by an assistant to Varma for three months, 12 hours every day. I learnt how to react before the camera."

And now "James" is to be released. "Varma has given me a full-on masala role. Lots of fights, drama though not much dancing...I'm an okay dancer, not exceptional. For tall people it's very difficult to get some movements right. I play a migrant in Mumbai. 'James' is all about how I react to the city and how the city reacts to me. Politics, drama, all the mirch-masala is in it.

"I'm confident about myself. But like any newcomer, I am nervous. When I started the film I didn't know what I was capable of. But now I know what I can do. I like myself in 'James'. It's important to have respect for your own abilities before others do the same."

It's being written that Mohit has said no to another offer with his mentor. "Say no to Varma? Do you think that's possible? There're some people and obligations that can never be forgotten. Even if he asks me to play the walk-on part of a security guard I'll say yes immediately. He'll always do his best for me, that's for sure. He is planning another project with me. I'd definitely prefer to work with Ramu again in my next film."

What about his kith and kin in T Series? "Bhushan always wanted to launch me. But the kind of films they make are very different from what I'd like to do."