Expectations of a real-life couple when they star in a movie — as Kareena and you do once more in Kurbaan — are always huge. Comment.
We haven’t done a movie together. In Tashan Kareena was opposite Akshay Kumar, I was opposite my moustache (laughs). I was also in my red belt!

There should be expectations. It’s great that there is chemistry and the film is likely to work but the roles and script we choose should be interesting. And a little different from what you would do with someone else, because a regular kind of a love story would be a burdening experience. The roles are so clearly defined in this film, so edgy, a little off and at the same time very entertaining and commercial. That’s why it’s the right film to do together and we can take the heat quite happily.

Global terrorism seems the new favourite subject in our films and since Kurbaan also taps into it, won’t there be a sense of déjà vu?
Kurbaan is not a documentary on global terrorism. What makes it so exciting is the situation the characters are in. The story is about what happens to a girl in a relationship.

What happens to a guy in his head with the backdrop of things happening in today’s world. It is highly entertaining. I would call it a love story, also a thriller and in its last leg I suppose, a political thriller.

You recently spoke at a leadership summit. Was it about Islam in the modern context?
Speaking at this conclave was a really great experience. Kareena and Matrix (her business agency) urged me to do it. Left to myself, I probably wouldn’t have. It was phenomenal because for once, the people we were talking to were not from the movies -they were all successful leaders from all different walks of life and to be counted among them was a compliment in itself. The things we spoke about were culturally enriching. After our conversation, the audience laughed and clapped.

We spoke about our views on films and life. We spoke about the importance of not looking to the west too much when it comes to cinema. And making better Indian films (rather) than being keen on transporting everyone to the west. You are beautiful, so go to Hollywood. If you are good-looking, you must be American. No! We are Indian and we make great movies. And we film folks should drop this Bollywood tag. It’s an awful name that has stuck. If we are happy with the name, it says something about us. We shouldn’t take it as a compliment. We are the Indian film industry. Bollywood sounds like Hollywood with a B in front.

Like Hollywood’s poor cousin?
I don’t know if it’s a poor cousin… I don’t even know if it’s a relative. I don’t think we should allow it to go on but that’s what I spoke about. Responsibility. What it means and what it’s like when you run things. How you have to think in terms of say … being a father and not just about yourself but your family, and what that growth means.

Speaking of Hollywood, did you meet up with Julia Roberts for lunch when she was shooting in India?
No! I imagine Julia Roberts would be like I would be at Neemrana (Resorts). No comparison of course between our paychecks but if the owner of the place asked me to come and lunch with his family-I would rather be left alone so I’d imagine she’d be the same.

In addition to being a sought-after actor, you are now a successful producer too— has that turned things around for you?
No it hasn’t really changed. The office is really nice now, but we have got other problems with the new film--how to make it etc. It’s good that you know what you are doing. That is not the realm of some magical kingdom to which we don’t have the keys. It enables one to make some decisions and make or market a film properly. It’s nice and reassuring.

Has the success of Love Aaj Kal smoothened the path some more in terms of being counted as an actor whose movie can boast of a good opening?
I think so. There’s definitely a feeling of that but how much it has changed, I don’t know.

The Airtel ad was rather well-noticed and promoted pretty much the same way the earlier ad for Ponds (with Priyanka Chopra and Neha Dhupia) in terms of projecting it like a film through posters etc… did you have a creative stake in that?
No, not at all. Airtel has its own ideas. Brands do a lot of research before they decide you are the right fit—it is a great parameter of your success.

You also walked the ramp recently for Manish Malhotra. Would you launch your own clothing line?
A clothing line? No.

Are you taking up the onus of being an IPL team owner?
I have been offered a couple actually but I don’t know enough about the business and I can’t devote enough time to it ,but let’s see. If it makes good business sense then maybe. Also, being from the family that I am, cricket carries a lot more weight in my mind (than say, a clothing line). But my father said, “You’d better know what you are doing.”

Are there any movies - besides Agent Vinod - coming up?
I keep saying that I would be keen to do Race 2 but at the moment it’s just Agent Vinod and Kurbaan’s promotion. Agent Vinod will probably start in January or February. We will shoot both outside India and in Delhi.