Imran Khan in town to promote Kidnap on Tuesday afternoon. Picture by Amit Datta

The last time he was in town was 20 Pujas ago as a five-year-old accompanying his ‘mamujaan’ Aamir Khan to promote Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. On Tuesday, he was the star Khan accompanied by his ‘jaan’ (sweetheart Avantika) to promote Kidnap.

Man-of-the-moment Imran Khan made sure that Puja came a week early for all those who flocked to INOX Swabhumi (formerly 89 Cinemas) on Tuesday evening. He even sold tickets for the Thursday shows of his second Bollywood release.

Riding the super success of Jaane Tu… Yaa Jaane Na, Imran might not have created the kind of frenzy Hrithik Roshan did, when he came to Calcutta after the release of Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, but cries of “he’s such a cutie” to “he’s so hot” to “hans de tu zara” from the popular Kabhi kabhi Aditi number followed him everywhere.

“Honestly, I don’t remember anything from the QSQT trip... I was so small,” laughed the 25-year-old Capricorn. “And this time too, I was so tired coming from Ahmedabad I could hardly look around.”

If he did, Imran would have surely looked for chomchom and kheer kodombo. “I am not much into sweets but I can’t get enough of Bengali sweets,” he said, with an earnestness that belied the mishti cliche of celebrities passing through Calcutta.

But the Bengali beauties vying for a second glance from the now-bearded hottie were disappointed. “I am not engaged but I do have a girlfriend for six years and I’m doing fine,” said he, flashing the now-famous Jai Singh Rathore smile from Jaane Tu.

Girlfriend Avantika , who drove in with Imran but avoided the spotlight and left before he was mobbed by fans, looked fetching in a blue dress while her hero held forth in a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

“Is that the only tattoo you have?” shouted a girl, referring to the tattoo on the back of his neck he flaunts in the Kidnap promos. “Why do you ask?” quizzed Imran. “If I say yes, you will ask where all!”

Tattoo talk turned to beard basics. “That’s for Aamir’s new home production Delhi Belly,” he revealed.

A tough-looking kidnapper and then a bearded guy — what happened to the chocolate-boy hero? “I would like to believe I am a better actor who has more than one image,” smiled the cool dude.