From modeling to Bollywood, Arjun Rampal has completed a long journey. Effectively battling notions that models are wooden, Arjun has managed some good performances in films like Aankhen, Tehzeeb, Dil Hai Tumhara, Ek Ajnabee , and Don, among others. in an email interview, Arjun talks about his upcoming films The Last Lear and Om Shanti Om, his innings with Bollywood and more. Excerpts:  


Tell us something about your upcoming films…
The Last Lear and Om Shanti Om are very different from each another. The Last Lear moves towards serious parallel cinema, with a commercially successful cast. It's an English language film as opposed to Om Shanti Om, which is being marketed as the biggest Indian commercial film ever.

In The Last Lear, I play a filmmaker – a director who wants to cast in his film an aging Shakespearean theater actor, played by Amitabh Bachchan. The film is about different relationships and how the unification of the actor and director in the film takes over and changes everyone's life.  


What was it like working with Rituparno Ghosh?
Ritu is one of the most intense directors I have worked with and the layers in each character are fascinatingly. He is fantastic at extracting good performances from his actors and I feel everyone who is part of The Last Lear feels special. The film was shown at the Toronto Film Festival a few weeks ago and was received extremely well. So some of the pressure is off.  


And Om Shanti Om?
Om Shanti Om is a commercial potboiler with something for everyone. I think the toughest role I have done is that of Mukesh Mehra in Om Shanti Om because he is the coldest and meanest character I have played. He is eccentric, tricky and vicious and, trust me, I am none of these in my personal life. So it was hard for me initially. Then I got into my character and began having fun with it. Anyway as an actor, I think it is important to play different roles and it is rare that you get a chance to play a 30-year-old and then 65 in such a big commercial film. I am glad Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan thought of me for this role.  


The Last Lear is your third appearance with Amitabh Bachchan…
Yes, Aankhen was the first. What can one say about him? He is a genius and definitely the best costar one can have. His performance in The Last Lear is like sheer poetry. I think we both have something special onscreen. I felt it when I saw Ek Ajnabee and now again with The Last Lear.  


You were in the remake of Don . Which remake did you like better – Don or Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag?
I cannot comment, as I have not seen Aag. But the box office seems to have preferred Don.  

Tell us about your role in Dus Kahaniyan …
I am not in Dus Kahaniyan anymore. I was supposed to do a story that was being directed by Sanjay Gupta but that didn't happen. So now we are doing a longer story together. But I have heard most of the stories and the film seems extremely promising.  

You have a lot of multi-starrers to your credit but no solo projects. Why?
The time of single hero films is gone. Today, films are more character centric and therefore one has to be a part of a film and not the other way round when films were based around a particular star. Thank god for that otherwise we will never make good films.  

You prefer action or romance?
Great action and a beautiful girl to romance. Can't refuse either. Would you?  

You seem love doing the song-dance routine…
Yes, I do. Especially after the world tours. The encouragement I received out there from fans helped me lose my inhibitions. So a big thanks to my fans.  


You are a lot into charity but few know about it…
I have hardly done that much. There is a lot more we all need to do. God has given me a good life and I feel we all must help in our own small ways, without getting pretentious or looking for your own benefits all the time.  


You are not seen much in public. Why?
Not really. I do go to a lot of public places like a normal person. But yes, I don't like social events too much. That doesn't mean I am anti-social. I just avoid parties.  

Your wife Mehr Jessia just got back into choreography. Is she coming back to the ramp?
My wife is a very talented person, and it would be a waste if she doesn't work. She has contributed greatly to fashion in this country and will continue to do so. It's just that she has been playing mom to our kids and now that they both are more settled, I am sure Mehr will be seen a lot more.  


What after I See You?
Many more great stories and films.  

You once said you wanted to make films that will be watched all over the world…
Yes I did, and I do believe I will do so someday.