by Subhash K Jha

Q: Zinda allowed you to connect with personal anguish, didn't it?
A: In a way...yes, perhaps a little bit. But I prefer not to connect with myself when playing a role. It's too complicated a process for me. I prefer to go with the character. Yeah, parts of Zinda, like the scenes in jail, disturbed me. But on the whole I played this troubled tortured man from the outside.

Q: But surely the past does matter to you.
A: I've chosen to disconnect with my past completely. Zinda required me to be extremely emotional, and yet completely focussed. It was a very difficult role to play. I had to walk a thin line. I had to make a conscious effort not to go berserk.

Q: The violence in the film is stomach-churning.
A: Sanjay Gupta and I did discuss this issue. Today when the film is doing well, I guess the violence is justified. I think it was needed in the plot. We decided we had to have the violence.

Q: Your fan base is still growing?
A: I'm grateful. I don't take my so-called stardom seriously. The ups or downs in my career are just a part of life. People love me the way I am. I can't change myself to behave like a star.

Q: Actually, Sanjay Gupta has become a big player through your continued support.
A: Arrey nahin, he's a talented boy. I'm grateful to him for giving me roles like those in Kaante and Zinda. And I'm happy that at last he has proved himself with Zinda.

Q: You seem to be playing your age these days?
A: At 46, I need to act my age. I'm glad I'm not getting the kind of roles that require me to dance around trees. It's very important for actors to accept their age. Once they do that they start growing as an actor. I think I've accepted my age in my recent films like Parineeta and Zinda, and even in my cameo in Shaadi No.1.

Q: Why did you do a supporting role to Saif Ali Khan in Parineeta?
A: Vinod Chopra is like my elder brother. I can never say no to him. I've told him I want to be in every film of his, even if it is for a passing shot.

Q: What do you plan to do with Sanjay Gupta next?
A: Nothing is decided right now. We were busy with Zinda. There were some problems, like we couldn't get a distributor in Bihar, etc. We haven't had time yet to plan our next project.

Q: Is the Munnabhai sequel turning out as well as the original?
A: I feel it's turning out better. I've always admitted that Munnabhai is the Mother India of my career. Raju Hirani doesn't make movies for money, but for the love of it. After such a big hit like Munnabhai, he could well have made 15 films and a lot of money. Instead he's making one film again for Vinod Chopra. Raju still lives in the same small apartment in Bandra (East). I'm proud to be associated with him.

Q: Do you miss your father a lot?
A: I don't feel he has gone. His death happened so suddenly. I had to grow up as suddenly. I've two younger sisters, now I feel I'm their father. I've no excuse to remain a kid any longer. I've no dad to run to with my problems. He was there to bail me out of every crisis. Sometimes when I'm sitting with my sisters it suddenly hits us that he's no more.

Q: Would you like to be in politics like your dad and sister?
A: No. I don't understand politics. I'll always work in films and make people happy.

Q: Your problems with the law still persist.
A: I've left it all to fate now. I haven't harmed anyone on life. One day justice will be given to me. If I sit and think about all my problems, my work will be affected.

Q: How often do you meet your daughter?
A: Not very often. for I can't keep applying for permission to go out of the country. She comes here for her holidays. I go as and when I can.

Q: Didn't the portions in Zinda with the daughter disturb you?
A: No, they didn't. There's no sense in living in the past. It takes a lot of effort to move on. But I've done it.

Q: Does work give you a lot of stress?
A: I use work as a therapy. I go to the gym for relieving stress. Or I go out with friends, or just sit around with my family over dinner.

Q: What are your current assignments?
A: I'm doing the sequel to Munnabhai with Raju Hirani. I'm also doing a comedy with Abbas-Mustan. I may do a film with Sanjay Gupta this year. I want to do just one film at a time.

Q: But audiences felt your role was much too small in Parineeta.
A: Well, I couldn't possibly have played Saif's role. I'm not into measuring the length of a role.

Q: What do you play in the sequel?
A: It's the same character and the same supporting cast. I'm Munnabhai but it's a completely different story.