Manoj Bajpai may not be half as hot as Bhiku Mathre, but his stint in Dus Kahaniyaan opposite Dia Mirza can change all that. This is what Manoj feels about love, marriage and sexuality.

How has divorce changed your world view'

Yes, I have gone through a divorce but fortunately it has not made me sour or bitter. Thanks to my education and the kind of company I keep, I am not bitter.... It was a love marriage, it lasted two years. She was in Delhi, I was in Mumbai...the distance brought disconnection.

You have now married an actress, Neha. Do you think it is a good idea for an actor to get married to an actress'

There is no formula. I think people should take a lot of time before they decide to go in for marriage. Shabana (Neha) and I took seven years. Finally, we went through the formality.

When a relationship ends, does the woman suffer more than the man'

The general perception is that there is a woman in every man and a man in every woman. I believe that the woman within me is very strong. I am extremely sensitive, dependent on my partner and possessive. I think a partner should have a little possessiveness. But I am not jealous.

What if Neha were to become more successful than you'

I would be very happy.

How has Neha impacted your life'

She is a voracious reader; she belongs to a very secular and informed family. People tend to look at her as a pretty face but she has strong views on the happenings in the world.

Do you think men don’t easily associate intelligence with beauty'

The Page 3 culture has painted women as empty-headed, wine-glass-holding.... But there is more to women.

What is your take on infidelity'

Infidelity or an extra-marital affair has become more pronounced of late because our connections with each other have become diluted. People are not spending enough time with one’s near and dear ones. So there is always the chance of a momentary slip.

Why do men indulge in locker-room talk'

It boosts their ego. Men see their conquests as an expression of power, I don’t. I feel powerful when someone comments, ‘Manoj, you did a great job in that film’.

Do you think men in the cities are modern'

We talk a lot about women’s liberation in cities, but look at the rising number of molestations and wife-beatings. My sisters live in Delhi and I am always concerned about their safety. Even in Mumbai, the status of women is diminishing.

How do you react to the talk that a woman dressed provocatively invites trouble'

How do you explain the fact that men swim in their briefs in the open seas but no woman pounces on them' Only people who are jealous of a woman’s independence can think in such a crass manner.

Are women being projected as sex objects'

Why does a woman’s sexuality become such an issue for people whereas a man can go bare-chested on screen'

Would you describe yourself as a modern man'

I would be happy to give my wife the reins. She is a very powerful woman with a mind of her own.