Post Border, if Prithvi WAS a blow to his new-found dignity, the surprise success of Bhai strengthened his position substantially. But it was the unnerving failure of Dhaal, which couldn't even fetch him a decent initial, that set him thinking. He started visiting directors of consequence and asking for work. His regular rounds of Gulzar's office landed him a plum role in Hu Tu Tu. There's no stopping the guy who's on a singing spree now. Govind Nihalani, Priyadarshan, Shashilal Nair, Ram Gopal Verma, Dharmesh Darshan, Rajiv Ravi - he's bogged the choicest roles with the best of directors. And then, just when it seemed that he had made a smooth transition from the crass action flicks to the elite genre of meaningful cinema, his bare torso pinned with medals and pips appeared on the hoardings of his latest release Vinashak. We decided it was time not to cross-check with the man himself. We met Sunil Shetty on the sets of Kala Samraiya at Kamalistan Studios. In his per hip-hugging denims topped with a collarless white shirt, he gave his final shot with Monica Bedi, chatted up visiting fans in chaste Marathi before settling down in a cool corner for a heart-to-heart.

(...contd)