Anil Kapoor not only has starlets half his age yearning to work with him but also has many film producers still knocking on his doors with plum offers. Such is his charisma and sustainability.

His latest thriller 'My Wife's Murder' hit the marquee last week and his two big films 'Chocolate' and 'No Entry' will adorn the silver screen soon. For 'My Wife's Murder', he turned producer after four years and joined hands with Parag Sanghvi for this venture.

Talking to press, Anil said,'' I think 'My Wife's Murder' is one of my and Ram Gopal Verma's Factory's best films to date. It is the story of a frazzled man who goes through the grindmill of the daily routine of his life and the character in the film is supposed to look weary throughout to show the trauma he is undergoing. It is my first film with Ramu and I grew a beard to look the character on his insistence. When I first read the script of the film, I could not leave it half way through.''

'' But when I got to know that Jijy Philip and not Ramu will direct the film I developed cold feet. I thought I would turn down the film, but when Jijy narrated the film I was convinced the man has some potential and after the completion of the film I reached this conclusion that had I left the film I would have done a great disservice to my film career,'' he said in a matter of fact tone.

'' I worked a lot to develop the character in 'My Wife's Murder'. I used to go to the set on a cycle and bathe in a dirty bathroom just to get into the skin of the character and understand the daily grind of the common man. It caused me a lot of discomfort but I thought that way I would also keep myself slim, trim and handsome,'' he added.

Asked about his views on the recently released 'Mangal Pandey -- The Rising', Anil retorted, '' It was I who first sported a moustache like that of Mangal Pandey in my film 'Virasat'. I also wore my hair long for that film and for its setting I used to go to New York. I shaved my moustache off for the films 'Lamhe' and 'Jhooth Bole Kava Kate' and I virtually felt nude those days. It saddened me a bit to shave off my moustache for the films but the characters in the films demanded it so I had no other option but to do it. Though it also made me a bit uncomfortable, I will not hesitate in the future also if I have to do the same thing.''

When every actor worth his or her salt is now trying his hand at off-beat cinema and venturing into somewhat unknown territory, will Anil tread the same path?

He insists,'' I do not know why people keep asking why I did off-beat films like 'Pukar' and 'Calcutta Mail'. I do not consider them off-beat films and not one of my film till date has been off-beat. But yes, when girls ask me why I have suddenly started looking more handsome then I say that their outlook towards me has undergone a sea change.''

On his future in the film industry, Anil said,'' after producing 'Badhai Ho Badhai' four years back, I turned producer for 'My Wife's Murder'. As now my company 'AKF productions' has plunged into film production headlong, it is obvious that there will be some stiff home competition from my brother and producer Boney Kapoor.

But we both have different styles of thinking and working. As a brother I have worked in his films and if the need arises even my younger brother Sanjay Kapur will not refuse to work in my films either.''