Sriram Raghvan’s last film, Ek Haseena Thi, came two years ago. It took him that long to break free from Ram Gopal Varma’s fold and discover another area of creative activity. But now he’s directed a film strangely titled, Johnny Gaddaar. What on earth is that? “It’s a caper thriller,” explains Sriram. “If I had to pick a genre it would have to be in the same line of vision as Tony Scott’s True Romance or Joel Coen’s Blood Simple. Nearer home I’d say it’s like Abbas-Mustan’s Baazigar.”

Happily Johnny Gaddaar, produced by Jhamu Sugandh, brings back Dharmendra in a pivotal role. Of late this wonderfully natural actor has been struggling with non-happening projects, for example, Govind Menon’s Bachke Rehna Re Baba where the director, a self-confessed fan of the exiled actor, had brought the actor’s fortunes plummeting further. Dharmendra has also been lending his name to C-grade actioners like Sultan and Jallad No. 1 and Bhai Thakur to keep himself busy. Sriram hopes to bring the joy of dignity back to Dharmendra’s career.

His film introduces Neil Mathur, grandson of the legendary singer Mukesh, in the other lead in Johnny Gaddaar. Many decades ago Neil’s illustrious grandfather had started his career as an actor in films like Nirdosh, Dukh Sukh, Adaab Arz, Anurag and a cameo in Raj Kapoor’s Aah. Neil is aware of the mythic Mukesh mantle that he must carry forward. “But acting has been a dream for me since I was four. In fact, I did two films as a child. It was acting and not singing that interested me. And my father [singer Nitin Mukesh] always encouraged me. I believe one can be successfully creative in any field of showbiz ? acting, direction or singing. For me, it’s acting.”

Neil claims he has been getting several offers. “I’ve been reading scripts. But I want to focus on Johnny Gaddaar. I’ll start something new after this film. We’re shooting Johnny Gaddaar in a non-stop, start-to-finish schedule. I can’t start anything else until it’s through.”

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3D ENTRANTS TO BOLLYWOOD

• Neil Mathur: Grandfather Mukesh was a singer; father Nitin Mukesh is also a singer.

• Hrithik Roshan: Grand-dad Roshan was a composer; father Rakesh Roshan, actor-director.

• Raima & Riya: Grandmom Suchitra Sen, the Mahanayika of Bengal, and mom Moon Moon Sen, the Maha Glam Gal of Bengal.

• Kajol & Tanissha: Grandmom Shobhana Samarth, actress-producer; and mom, actress Tanuja.

• Karisma & Kareena: Grandfather Raj Kapoor, actor-director, among other things; and father Randhir Kapoor, actor-director-producer.