Believe it or not Rohit Jugraj is the seventh new director in our movie theatres in two weeks, after Aaditya Datt(Aashiq Banaya Aapne), Sanjay Dayma (Ramji Londonwale), Kannika Verma (Dansh), Siddarth Raj Anand (Salaam Namaste), Ruchi Narain (Kal) and Bappaditya Roy (Sau Jhooth Ek Sach).

Going by his rather blunt dismissal of offbeat/socially conscious films it would seem as though Rohit has little patience with some of his other debut-making colleagues' works.

"If James doesn't work I'll have to make those NRI/ HIV films," he laughs, referring to some of our recent multiplex monstrosities which have done their own thing without caring for the audiences' response.

For Rohit the masses are the main motivator. "James is supposed to be my tribute to all the masala films that I grew up watching, from Charas and Don to Ramu's Shiva and the Antonio Banderas starrer Desperado and of course First Blood/Rambo . My hero Mohit Ahlawat is an amalgamation of all my childhood heroes."

Rohit admits there would have been no James without Mohit. "He lifts the routine story. I wanted a fresh face that would remind audiences of all the great action heroes, the saviour -angels like Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan who represented hope and heroism."

"I think Mohit has that quality of exceptional heroism. Without him James wouldn't have been possible. It would've looked like just another routine action film. In fact the whole project was tailored to suit Mohit's personality. I'm glad I proved a good darzi ..... I'm not to sure about how audiences in the metros have reacted. But in the northern belt audiences are clapping and cheering at Mohit's hero-giri."

Rohit seems to believe in his hero completely. "Mohit stands on a par with Hrithik and Abhishek who I believe are among the best today. The sincerity in his eyes and the confidence in his body language are amazing. In fact I deliberately didn't make him take off his shirt in the film. That's what all brawny action heroes do. Why do the expected? I wanted to save the chest and the rest for the next."

And what's the next one going to be? "See, The full-on action genre really turns me on. So my next film will have lots of action. But it will be more like an action love story," says this erstwhile assistant to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "One day I hope to pay a homage to Sanjay by making a film like Khamoshi . James is the opposite of Khamoshi . No respite from the sound of ongoing action."

"But I don't want the action to be gory. I agree parts of James are too bloodied. But that's to do with the quality of films Ramu makes. You can't get away from a certain look."

About his next.... "See I studied filmmaking in New York. while I was there I also moonlighted as a flowery delivery boy. So I want a bouquet of assorted flowers in my career. I want to make all kinds of films with all sorts of producers. Ram Gopal Varma may not be my next producer. There're a couple of other producers who are interested," says Rohit who was studying medicine when filmmaking beckoned.

Rohit wants to make massy films. "James is the kind of actioner I used to cheeer for. Now I hope audiences cheer for me. Otherwise... there's always the next NRI movie to be made."