John Abraham never fails to surprise. Just when everyone had dismissed him as just another pretty face, he showed his acting prowess in Water. Earlier too, John had played out a dynamic heist expert in Dhoom with élan. And as he takes on yet another unusual role in No Smoking, John seems more than ready to prove his detractors wrong. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, No Smoking is an interesting take on the evils of smoking and a chain smoker's efforts to kick the butt. A chat with the hunky model-turned-actor on the film:  

So do you actually smoke or are you big on no smoking?
I used to smoke when I was doing my MBA but have given up since. I think I got into the habit because of stress and pressure of performing. But once I finished my course I gave it up. See the fact is that every pack of cigarettes mentions that 'smoking is injurious to health', but ciggies are still sold in the market. So it totally depends on an individual. I don't like smoking anymore. And only when people feel from within that they should give it up do they find the strength to give it up.  

In the film, you try to stop smoking because your wife tells you to. Did you stop smoking because someone told you to?
Nobody tells me what to do. I gave it up myself. People who smoke usually stink of smoke. Also they have chest congestions and breathing problems. I remember I used to smoke about 80 cigarettes a day and as soon I finished the film I went to the clinic to get an x-ray done. I was shocked to see the effects of smoke on my lungs. Though I had it cleared in a couple of days the very sight of it made me feel repulsed. ( Laughs) If you meet your girlfriend and she says you stink of smoke, you feel bad.  

Did you have to take medicines after the film was over?
No, not at all. It is like the way a filter is filled and then clears on its own. When I went for a check up after some time, everything was cleared from my lungs.

Why did you choose to do the film?
Anurag called me up and asked if I had some time to listen to the script that he wanted to narrate. I asked him to come within 15 minutes as I was leaving for a shoot. It takes him that much time to reach my place. But the first line he narrated did not appeal to me at all and I refused. He then took a cigarette out and after taking a puff told me: "I was sure you won't like this concept. Actually I just cooked up this story while traveling down to you to know you better. I thought if you dislike this one, you will like the one that I have seriously scripted keeping you in mind." And he was right. I heard the script of No Smoking and was taken in immediately.  

After doing Water, you seem to be veering towards serious films…
Yeah! Actually I like to do commercial films too, but it should be meaningful. This is an anti-smoking film. Smoking is not the coolest thing to do. What needs to change is the perception that smoking is cool. Also, the government has to become more proactive in curbing the menace.  

How is Anurag as a director?
Jotting down the script is one thing and executing it is another. I say Anurag is the finest director I've worked with and every bit that he wants is necessary. Every scene he does has meaning. In fact this movie also shows some of his real experiences. So I had to do them carefully.  

Rumors say that the item number Bipasha is doing was on your recommendation…
Why should I get her any assignments? She is a well known actress and Anurag had liked her in 'Beedi'. So he approached her and she is doing the item number.

Some of your critics have written you off as a non-actor….
Well, I don't feel offended really. Maybe I have not done a good job in some films. But I do know my potential. Some critics write negative reviews on purpose. I know them and I don't care about them at all.

Cast: John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Ranvir Shorey, Paresh Rawal, Joy Fernandes, Kiku Sharda and Bipasha Basu

Producer: Kumar Mangat and Vishal Bharadwaj

Music director: Vishal Bharadwaj

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Release Date: 26 October 2007

Anurag Kashyap returns with another dark and gritty drama after Black Friday. No Smoking, which releases Friday, has been extensively shot in Kazakhstan, Siberia and Russia and stars John Abraham.

The film, which also has Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal and Ranvir Shorey, revolves around K (John Abraham), a self-obsessive chain smoker. Be it his friends, colleagues or his wife Anjali (Ayesha Takia), he disrespects everybody around him.

Anjali tries every trick in the book to change him, but nothing works. Finally, she takes him to a mysterious guy called Baba Bengali Sealdahwale (Paresh Rawal) who runs a rehabilitation centre. He agrees to help K but before that asks him to sign an agreement. Once signed, it cannot be withdrawn.

K agrees to sign, thinking he will break out of it according to convenience. But he is proven wrong when he breaks the rule for the first time. As a punishment, his car is blown up.

He soon overcomes the shock and makes another attempt at smoking-once again he has to pay a very heavy price. Baba Bengali blocks all the roads and K realises he can get out of it only if he quits smoking. At the same time, he also starts suspecting his wife and assumes that she is behind all this.

Saif Ali Khan and Bipasha Basu make guest appearances in the film that has been edited by Vishal Bharadwaj.

Kashyap's last film Black Friday, based on the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, brought him huge critical acclaim. Now both critics and fans are looking forward to No Smoking. Hope it lives up to expectations.

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan was today issued a legal notice by an NGO for smoking in public during the two recent events - the Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai and Hindustan Times Summit in Delhi. The NGO, National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) issued legal notice to film actor Shahrukh Khan for smoking in public during the two recent events - the Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai and Hindustan Times Summit in Delhi.

NOTE, an anti-tobacco NGO, which is already into a legal battle with megastar Amitabh Bachchan over his movie posters showing him smoking cigar, issued legal notice through its lawyer. The NGO has threatened to sue Khan for promoting smoking in public places, which is banned under the Anti-Tobacco Act. The notice to Khan has been issued under Sections 4 and 5 (3) of cigarette and other tobacco products (prohibition of advertisements and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003.

"Images of Shahrukh Khan inhaling smoke were shown on Doordarshan during its telecast of the Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai on October 20. The national television channel's telecast of such outrageous images is another act worth condemnation,"

NOTE general secretary Dr Shekhar Salkar told PTI. Prior to this incident, Khan was shown sitting on the dais with a lighted cigarette in his hand during the Hindustan Times Summit in Delhi on October 12 and 13, NOTE said. These acts show the much-acclaimed actor and youth icon in a very poor light, the NGO mentioned. A superstar, imitated and adored by millions cannot lend a helping hand to promote smoking, Salkar added.

She played a fallen woman in her last release Laaga Chunari Mein Daag - Journey Of A Woman and once again Rani Mukerji will be seen as a prostitute in the much-hyped Saawariya. She says it is not a coincidence.

'Not by chance, by choice,' Rani laughed. 'I play very different kinds of prostitutes in Saawariya and Laaga Chunari... The woman in Saawariya has no problem with her profession, whereas in the other film it's completely different,' Rani told IANS.

'No one goes into prostitution willingly. But there're compulsions and compulsions,' says Rani, who was seen in a similar role in Aamir Khan's The Rising.

Rani says her character in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag had to undergo many changes.

'I had to manifest her change from a simple homely Varanasi girl to a high-class hooker in Mumbai. And I dressed accordingly. In order to feel like a character, you've to look like her, especially when she's true to life which she is in many of my films.

'In Laaga Chunari... it was very important for me to look completely different as the innocent, carefree girl in Varanasi and then this prostitute in Mumbai.'

Rani wanted to shock the audience.

'The shock value had to come through. My director Pradeep Sarkar, my hairstylist, my costume designer and I got together and spent hours creating contrasting looks for me as Badki in Varanasi and Natasha in the film. It's so important to have a team that makes your character look convincing.'

Apart form Rani, Laaga Chunari... starred some fine actors like Konkona Sen Sharma, Abhishek and Jaya Bachchan, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam