Mission Istaanbul is an action film. And so is your forthcoming film, Blue. Is it your strategy to develop an action hero image?

At this point of time, I’m very attracted to action scripts because I love watching films that are larger than life. I like this genre because there is a lot of entertainment value in it. I remember when I was a kid I would be very excited about watching Mr India, Shahenshah, Star Wars and Terminator. I wanted to be an actor after watching these films. So I want to have my fill of these action films before I do romantic roles. There is plenty of time to be romantic; you are only young for so long, you can bear injuries only in this phase. After a certain age, you tend to get slow.

Did you enjoy the action in Mission Istaanbul?

I think Mission Istaanbul really juiced me as far as my talents are concerned and I was waiting for an action film that would completely exploit me.

How was it shooting in Istanbul in minus three degrees? I believe in certain scenes you were sporting only a vest.

Wearing a vest? Bro, I was shirtless! It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t nice but at the end of the day, you have to behave like a hero. When you are in your van you go ‘wooh-wooh’ in the cold but when you come out of the van you stay cool. When I was shooting bare-chested, I would run a 50 metre sprint and do 50 push ups just to keep myself warm. Nikitin (Dheer) and I injured each other a bit while shooting the action sequence in the freezing cold weather because we did not know how hard to hit each other.

And how was it shooting underwater in Bahamas for Blue ?

It was amazing, it was an experience. I’m a certified scuba diver. We had to shoot with sharks and all. Initially, it was very scary but as you go through the dives you come to know their nature. The professional divers give you the confidence to tackle them. It was an experience par excellence, something that probably won’t happen again for years to come.

You play a journalist in Mission Istaanbul. What is your take on journalists?

I play a successful TV anchor and field journalist. He is a very neutral, unbiased guy for whom it is all about bringing the story alive. I feel journalists are warriors in the real sense. They endanger their lives to get a byte. They are responsible for shaping the minds of the people, it is a tough job, you are always in the eye of the storm. At the end of the day, you are dodging bullets in a bid to shoot the most atrocious things to show to the world.

How different is your character Vikas Sagar from Zayed Khan?

Very different yaar. Vikas is a more mature and more responsible guy, Zayed is also responsible but I don’t dress up in suits everyday and I don’t like to pry behind closed curtains. I live my life very patiently. I love acting and I’m very passionate about it. I research my parts. I'm a guy who has ADD — Attention Deficiency Disorder — so I get bored of things quickly. Therefore, I need to do a lot of things simultaneously.

Viveik is supposed to be upset over your hogging the publicity for Mission Istaanbul? Were you affected by that?

It didn’t affect me at all because I am not a petty guy. I feel you should be bothered about your own work, period.

How is Suniel Shetty as a producer?

Anna has always been a producer in his heart apart from being an actor. Anna leaves no stone unturned to make his film a big and lavish affair.

Five years into films, are you happy with the way your career has shaped up?

Yeah, I’m very happy considering it is only five years. Every year I learn some more, and keep getting better at my job. I hope by the time I complete 20 years I am riding high and enjoying my work as much as some of the more experienced actors do.

How has fatherhood changed you?

It is a very subtle change. For instance, you want to come back home everyday to see your kid. It recharges you, you feel responsible and mature. People tell me ‘Tujhe dekh ke aisa nahi lagta ke tu baap hai.’ Even I feel the same at times; I tell my wife that we don’t look like parents.