by Subhash K Jha

"Where does an actor like me go?" Sanjay Suri can laugh about thesnub he has received from filmmakers over the years, including Vikram Bhatt's Aakhir (now entitled Ankahee)

But now Sanjay is determined to make back lost ground. And the first person to say sorry in kind (if not in cash)is Vikram who's working with Sanjay in Harry Baweja's Speed, a multi-starrer featuring Urmila Matondkar, Aftab Shivdasani and others.

"It's a good set-up and I'm enjoying working with Vikram," says theever-genial Sanjay. "Of course I was hurt when I was asked to leave Anakheein favour of Aftab Shivdasani. But I guess the producer and director know best. I've no hard feelings. And it isn't the first time this has happened to me."

Sanjay lost Deepa Mehta's much talked-about Water. The director and actor met. And sheliked him immensely for the role of the Gandhian hero. "But I guess Deepa thought John Abraham suited the character better.I respect her judgement...just as I respect Rajiv Virani for opting for Manoj Bajpai over me inhis debut film The Whisperers."

Sanjay was meant to co-star with Rahul Bose in Virani's debut film. But because the actor's dates clashed with Vikram Bhatt's Ankahee he thought it better if Virani looked for a substitute.

"As luck would have itnow I've neither Vikram's nor Virani's films," Sanjay laughs loudly at the ironiesof life and vagaries of showbiz.

"But I do have work which I'm proud of. After My Brother Nikhil no one is coming to mewith garbage, that's for sure. I'm specially excited about my Nikhil director Onir's next film. It's aHindi romantic comedy with Juhi Chawla and Urmila Matondkaropposite me. Like Nikhil it's a a film with lots of layers. I like doing that. "

Suniel Shetty's Popcorn Entertainment will produce the film.