After working on the sequel to "Awaara Paagal Deewana", Vikram Bhatt has decided to steer clear of lightweight films and will move into the realm of realistic, hard hitting cinema with his next "Aakhir".

"All I'll say is after 'Deewane Huey Pagal' I've decided: no more such films for me. I'll only do the films that I believe in."

All set to move into a new sphere in his career, Vikram is really looking forward to "Aakhir" with Sanjay Suri and Bengali actress Rituparna Ghosh.

He says: "It's the film closest to my heart and the most realistic work I've ever done. I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying rediscovering my roots after doing a series of escapist fantasy adventures."

The failure of his recent film has made Vikram wiser about the changing face of audiences. "In fact, I'm making yet another realistic film which Prakash Jha will produce. It will be about how young, urban, hip crowds in our country go wrong in their lives. The female-centric film requires the presence of a teacher in her 30s."

How about ex-flame Sushmita Sen?

"No, this isn't a film about a sexy teacher in a chiffon sari. I've put my days of fantasies behind me. For now I want to make realistic films pitching themselves at a more authentic scale than what we generally perceive mainstream cinema to be...

"In fact, I've a third hard hitting project on the anvil about the lives of four juvenile delinquents in a ghetto in Mumbai. If I make this film it will take me back to my father's (cinematographer Pravin Bhatt's) early days. Cinema for me is now a cathartic rather than an anarchic medium."

On the personal front, Vikram is very much at peace with his soul mate and companion Amisha Patel. She recently referred to him as the hottest male around. Vikram laughs: "She's just being sweet and generous. With my grey hair and workaholic attitude I can't imagine myself being hot by any standards."