‘He’s Trying to Impress Bipasha’

Is it a remake of When Harry Met Sally?
No, it’s not a remake but it’s packaged like When Harry Met Sally. It’s also episodic like the English film but it’s basically a typical Yashraj film. I play a cartoonist in the film who is a trendy guy when he is 21, then becomes laid-back when he turns 25, and at 30 he is more responsible. Come to think of it, this guy is a lot like me.

No attempts to be like Billy Crystal then?
Not at all. Nobody can be like Billy Crystal. I am just me.

I think you’ve become the fourth Khan.
Wow! Double wow! I guess people are also feeling it but you are the first person to say so. I am glad because that’s what I’ve always wanted to be.

But what’s happened to your hairstyle? It’s long and boring in Hum Tum.
Well that’s just in the film. As my age changes in the film, so does the hair. This has happened to me in real life also. I’ve gone through all the phases—had a ridiculous mullish switch sometime, then I had a longer traditional cut and now it’s short and smart. That’s how I prefer it.

Talking about date films, which is your favourite date flick?
I don’t really have one. I like The Lord of the Rings and Matrix. My wife (Amrita Singh) hates these films, by the way. Actually, it’s been a long time since I went for a movie on a date. These days I watch movies on my own because now I am more interested in the film rather than the date. Most of the guys like to take their dates for a movie so that they can kiss them in the dark. I’ve never been that kind of a guy.

You’ve never kissed a girl in a cinema hall?
Yes, that’s quite a confession but it’s true. I’ve never kissed a girl in a movie theatre.

After Kal Ho Naa Ho and Kantaben you’ve become a gay icon.
That’s really nice. A few years ago there was a controversy with Ashok Row Kavi when the gay community wanted to kill me. So being a gay icon is fabulous.

So has any guy tried to hit on you?
Once, when I was 17. But nothing happened.

Women also find you hot. That’s quite an enviable position to be in?
Yeah, it is. I just hope I am successful in my work.

Now you are playing a Parsi boy in Akoori?
Yes, but it’s not very typical. There’s no accent as such. Akoori is a rather dark and funny film. It’s quite quirky and also my attempt to be experimental and different.

You and Amrita have one of the most successful marriages in the industry. What’s the secret?
I have no idea. I guess love is important and also mutual respect which we both have in abundance.

There’s one grudge, though. You hardly speak about your son Ibraham and only talk about your daughter Sara.
Well, my son is sleeping right in front of me. He comes with me on the sets. We were shooting an action scene with cables and he was really excited. He’s quite a flirt and a stud. These days he is trying to impress Bipasha Basu. I don’t know how successful he will be on that count though.