Rahul Bose with Mallika Sherawat in Maan Gaye Mughall-e-Azam

Rahul Bose, known for being funny and intelligent, is now attempting over-the-top (OTT) comedy with Maan Gaye Mughall-e-Azam for the first… and last time. He gets candid about his chemistry with the “not so sexy” Sherawat, the film he wants to direct, and the reasons he would choose rugby over a girl...

Maan Gaye Mughall-e-Azam is your most masala film till date...

I did Maan Gaye Mughall-e-Azam because I wanted to do an out-and-out,OTT comedy. I started my career on stage with a comedy called Topsy Turvy. So I have just come full circle. I won’t do another one similar to this film. There is some serious hamming going on in the film!

People seem to like you in comedy roles...

Indians like hamming but I am not there to satisfy everybody.

You said Sanjay Chhel and you are from different worlds. Were you apprehensive before signing the film?

Yes, very apprehensive. But I found out that Sanjay is a deceptively well-read man. He has read Freud, Erica Jong, Gujarati plays, revolutionary Punjabi poetry and novels with political ideologies. He has a very dark sense of humour. We got along really well.

You will be seen with Mallika after Pyaar Ke Side/Effects. Should people expect the same magic?

No, they shouldn’t; because this time Mallika shares her magic with Paresh, Kay Kay and me. So we don’t have as much of a cinematic bond as we had in PKSE. Also, we don’t have as much of a growth in a relationship because it’s one-third of the film and the humour is not that of a clever urban comedy. It’s more of a mainstream middle-of-the-road broad comedy. But I saw the film and I think it works like a charm.

Do you feel if a couple has good chemistry in real life, it translates on screen too?

No. Perizaad and I get along wonderfully. We are very good friends. I don’t think our onscreen chemistry was that good.

Who do think you have had the best onscreen chemistry with?

I have been told that I have had the best onscreen chemistry with Konkona and Mallika but look how different they are (laughs)!

What do you think of actresses who use their sexuality to be noticed?

To each their own. Some people use their talent, some people use their sexuality, and some people like Uma Thurman use both. As actors you have to use whatever skill and strength you have to win the audience. I have always relied on my love for acting. If I was to use my sexuality then I think there would be riots in the movie halls (laughs).

I know a lot of women who are crazy about you.

But not because of my sexuality… I have as much sexuality as a snail has speed.

Do you find Mallika sexy?

No I don’t. I have told her so. I find her to be much more than sexy. She is a warm, funny, brave individual. I find that interesting. I have never for a second thought of her as sexy. I told her to take that as a compliment.

Your next directorial venture Moth Smoke was going to start in July. What happened?

The pre-production was supposed to start in July but now it has been shifted to November and the movie will be shot in February 2009. The reason is November, December and January are foggy and I don’t need fog in this film. I need heat, so we pushed it just before summer.

Will you shoot the film in Pakistan where the original novel is based?

We haven’t yet started doing that research. But we hope to do a brief stint in Lahore and the rest of its will be locations of India masquerading as Lahore.

What drew you to this novel by Mohsin Hamid?

It’s a great tale of deceit, betrayal and friendship. It brings out the best and worst in people.

Are you planning to do a cameo?

That is a possibility.

On a personal note, if you are not in a relationship for some time, people start saying you are not straight. Is that a bother?

After having relationships for 16 years, if I decide to be single for six years, suddenly some people suggest that I am a homosexual. If people are going to be so impatient and change my sexuality every five-six years, how does it bother me? I am chilled about it.

Finally, give us three reasons why you would choose rugby over a girl?

Because the sport teaches you more than any girl can teach you. It teaches you to lose, to value team spirit and to cherish solid friends on the field. Rugby has taught me more about life than what my parents have taught me. It makes you physically fit in a way I don’t think women can (laughs).