Brawny Points

The bare basics aside, Abraham is also intruding on Shah Rukh Khan’s home turf. SRK loyalist Karan Johar has ‘‘spoken’’ to Abraham for a possible lead in his next production venture to be directed by ex-assistant Soham Seth.

Johar sounds impressed. ‘‘He has fabulous screen presence.” The Chopras, too, have been charmed. He’s in Dhoom under the Yash Chopra banner, helmed by Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai director Sanjay Gandvi. Son Aditya is handling the casting, but Yash Chopra sounds more excited. ‘‘His appeal is different because he’s very unlike a typical Hindi film hero. He can play a lover boy, an obsessive lover and a cop with equal elan. He has range,’’ prophesies Chopra senior.

Then there’s Deepa Mehta’s River Moon, Vikram Bhatt’s Elaan, Suneel Darshan’s as-yet-untitled next movie, Ahmed Khan’s Lakeer and the support of his security blanket—the Bhatts.

But, attired in his trademark V neck that frames those by now famous bronzed pectorals, the man is oblivious to the effect he’s having. Sitting in front of a mirror in his trailer van, Abraham’s getting his long locks ironed. From no angle does he look even the slightest bit like a Hindi film hero. His hair’s too long, he always sports a stubble and till date he hasn’t danced in any of his films. Plus there’s the stigma of being a model-turned-actor. Come on, even his name is so unlike a Bollywood hero’s.

He says he’s never been tempted to change it. ‘‘That never crossed my mind as I was a relatively successful model. And what’s in a name, it’s either good or bad,’’ he grins, flashing that dimple.

Abraham confesses his acting anatomy is hardly Bollywood-esque either. ‘‘My style is more laid-back. I don’t act, I react. And unlike our actors, I’m uncomfortable making opulent gestures. Lakeer will be the first film where I shake a leg.’’

Is that a superior air? “No,” says Abraham, though he does admit he never wanted to act. ‘‘I did my MBA and had a job as media planner in hand when Rahul Rawail offered me a film. I declined his offer but eventually said yes to Vikram Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt when they offered me Aetbaar and Jism, respectively.’’

His trademark stubble has been around since his debut. ‘‘People feel it adds age and maturity to my face. Clean-shaven, I look like a 21-year-old,’’ says Abraham, 30.

Ask him if ‘people’ mean directors/producers or girlfriend Bipasha Basu, and a shy smile lights up his face. ‘‘I mean everyone.’’

But what is the status with Basu? The couple are pretty open about their affaire de coeur. Abraham puts it differently. ‘‘We neither hide nor deny it. We know people know we are a couple,’’ he says casually. And then the man-in-love adds, ‘‘Whenever I get involved, I hope it ends in marriage. Bipasha and I are being cautious and practical and working hard at our relationship.’’

So, what’s the sweetest thing Bips has ever told him? It’s that shy smile again. ‘‘That I’m one of the most intense actors she’s worked with.’’ And he ain’t saying more. How intense is he in real life? ‘‘I am an extremist and can also be violent.’’ Abraham insists we hear him out. ‘‘My violence or anger is usually self-directed. When I get upset, I just pick up my bike (1,300 cc Suzuki) and ride at breakneck speed.’’

Bikes are Abraham’s first love and Bipasha better understand. ‘‘I want to open a biking school. I want to live with bikes. Together with a pilot friend of mine, I want to ride all the way from Europe into India. I want to do this now at this age,’’ exults Abraham who is equally passionate about football and vegetarianism (‘‘I gave up non-veg five years ago’’).

He also doesn’t touch alcohol. ‘‘I know it’s boring, but my favourite drink is carrot juice,’’ he admits unapologetically. The drink might be boring but the chest certainly is not.