Let’s start with the obvious – are you anxious?
I am very excited. By far, this has been the most challenging role of my career and most creatively satisfying. Almost 1,200 prints will be released, so it will be a very big release despite the fact that it has been given an adult certificate. I am anxious because everyone is talking about that shot where I am running with horses. I told Vishal, ‘In ghodon ke saath mujhe kaun dekhega?’

On a serious note, we knew that first promos would be the acid test. Fortunately, the reactions were good and we heaved a sigh of relief.

How was it working with Vishal who is also a family friend?
I am very fortunate to have worked with Vishal. His films are always of very high quality. I was very happy that he wanted to make a mainstream film with me in it. There are many firsts to Kaminey - my first film with Vishal and Priyanka. Also, in this film, Vishal shows a side to Mumbai that’s never been seen before. We shot across rail yards and Charlie lives in an old, out-of-use train compartment! Working with Vishal has been a very interesting journey.

What can one expect from the film?
Kaminey is a movie about two brothers that speaks for itself but there is a line which Charlie (the character who lisps) says that sums it up best. “Life mein paisa kamaney ke do raste hote hain - ek fortcut doosra chota fortcut.”

So yes, there is a lot going on in terms of dialogues, music…the visuals and just about everything.

Kaminey is breaking away from what I have done in the past. It is out of my comfort zone. My most successful films have been the ones with me playing a romantic hero and here was a film offering me an opportunity to do something completely different. It’s great when you can surprise the audience but it has to be a pleasant surprise… I am very proud of it.

A lot of work must have gone into it also because it’s a double-role film?
Yes. I worked for a year in my body. My trainer completely killed me - no sugar, no sweets all that jazz.

Also, both the roles are about people with speech defects and we wanted it to be realistic and not a caricature. We went to speech specialists, ENT specialists and tried to understand the psychological process that causes the condition. We met people with such conditions and have even used an episode narrated by one of them. It’s in a scene between Sweety and Guddu - he’s the one with a stammer - when he tells her about the incident which caused it.

Obviously, a lot of physical changes were required too - Charlie’s character was physically more difficult to achieve so we were shooting one guy one day and the other the next day…A lot of help was required from the costume department because we didn’t want Guddu’s character to come across as tough — he has to look vulnerable and sweet. The cameraman Tasadduk lit the two characters differently to distinguish them. From working with Priyanka to doing a song like Dhan ta dan where I am supposed to dance but not do any steps it’s been a whole new experience.

Are you now, officially, the new bad boy about town?
I would like to believe that I am the new bad boy in town (chuckles). I have bought myself a bike and am feeling pretty cool about it. I guess we all have that side and which is why I could connect to the character. In person I can be very moody and pigheaded. I am honest and straightforward about liking or disliking something. Some people can like that some people don’t.

Actually, I am a wannabe cool guy who is conservative!!

There seems to be this growing perception of you as a perfectionist - does that make you difficult to work with?
I must confess I am not an easy person to work with. There are a lot of questions that I would ask, discuss. I do recognise that a film is a director’s medium but I feel the need to be convinced about the director’s vision in order to be convincing in the role I play.

Several controversial stories - a faceoff with director Vishal Bhardwaj and link up with co-star Priyanka Chopra - surrounded the release. Is it strategy or just the rumour mills in motion?
When a film releases there will be five good stories and 10 bad stories. So there’s not much to say about it. I have tremendous respect for Vishal and am proud that he decided to make this film with me. As for link-ups with co-stars, now I won’t get a two-three hero film because people will say “Hamare saath bhi link up karne lagenge. Yaar, I can’t help it. If I am doing a film and not linked up, I will be disappointed. Kya bol raha hai yaar, main Buddha ho gaya kya? (laughs) As for my personal life, if I am in a serious relationship people will know.

Speaking of co-stars, you have Dil Bole Hadippa with Rani Mukerji coming up - how’s that shaped up?
Dil Bole Hadippa is a fun film. It was fun working with Rani - she is a complete actress.

Tell us about other projects with you in the lead.
I am shooting for a Yashraj film that Parmeet Sethi is directing. Anoushka Sharma is my co-star. There is Ken’s film which is a dance film in which I have danced my life out. I am also working in dad’s (Pankaj Kapoor) film that’s been on the cards. It’s a love story which we will start shooting in December-January.

Has Kaminey changed the industry perception of you as an actor?
The perception towards me has changed big-time but I want them to see me differently as an actor and not at a personal level. A lot of people told me ‘You have started looking like a man.’ That’s not important. I hope they accept me in different spaces as an actor because that allows me to do many different things.

Money and fame having been achieved, what is it that you now aspire for?
May be do just one film a year and give it my best. Avoiding repetition. If a director told me - Shahid, woh picture mein jaisa shot tha, waisa shot chahiye, I would run away (laughs). Even if I do one film a year I should be able to surprise the audience.

I want to be the best, someone who is brilliant in what he does. So easy and simple na (laughs)?

Would that be consistently difficult with young, new actors coming into the business?
While it is new actors that are constantly written about, there are also directors technicians coming into the industry. It is great as fresh thoughts are always very welcome. As for competition it is always a good thing to see a great film and die of jealousy.