Anuj on his future project

Anuj Sawhney came into limelight with his debut comedy film Nayee Padosan. Post that he has had the good fortune of working with the likes of Urmila Matondkar and Sushmita Sen in films like Naina and Chingaari. Anuj believes in doing good films rather than big banners. He will soon be seen in Life Main Kabhi Kabhi where he plays a special appearance and then in Abbas Mastaan's comic thriller Mr. Fraud. We spoke to him about his career and his forthcoming films.

After your last film Tom Dick and Harry we have not seen much of you. Where have you been?
I was busy in my two films. One of them is Mr. Fraud which is Abbas Mustan's film produced by Ashtavinayak in collaboration with K Sera Sera. The film is 70 per cent complete and the other film is Vikram Bhatt's film Life Main Kabhi Kabhi. Also I have been working on a Hollywood film. I am quite busy with the look test. I play an Italian mafia. The look and feel of that is yet to be finalized.

Mr. Fraud seems to be one of the big projects of Abbas Mustan. The film has big names like Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu.
Mr. Fraud is a comic thriller and no one knows who Mr. Fraud is? It is a mystery. It is one of the interesting scripts that have come to me. I am really looking forward to this film. It's going to be one of the biggest hits of this year.

It's a very interesting concept but I can't talk about it. I normally don't go for the banner rather I go for the concept of the film. If there is something in the film that interests me or something that people haven't seen before, it excites me. As an actor I believe if I am not excited about a film or a role, I will not be able to give my 100 per cent, which would obviously be seen on the screen. I would prefer not being a part of the project. That's why you saw me in Chingari, which is a story of a prostitute or Naina, traveling back in time or about three handicaps coming together in Tom Dick and Harry. I do films which excite me. I don't want to be seen in that regular drama.

What do you do in the film? Is it a cameo or a full-fledged role?
My character name is Cyber. He is the guy who is very techno savvy. Bipasha is the only girl in the film. I can't talk more about the film.

How is it working with Abbas Mastan
They are absolutely like father figures to me. We were shooting in London and I wasn't well. They come to my room at 2 am at night just to make sure that I was fine. Nobody cares as much about anyone.

You are playing a guest appearance in Life Main Kabhi Kabhi.
It's a character based film. There are five principle characters in the film and my character is a surprise package in the film. All these friends are in search of happiness. One feels if he has too much money he'll be happy. A lot of people feel that if they get fame they would be happy or if they get power they would be happy. May be they forget that the path they choose to fulfill their dream is something which would make them loose purpose of their life, which is happiness. Unknowingly this character teaches them what happiness is. He is unconditionally in love with Nauheed, who wants to be a film actress. He is always there for her.

What is happening about your much-delayed film Brides Wanted starring Waheeda Rehman and Girish Karnad? Why is it stuck for so long?
I think there was some problem with the producer. And I am not updated from the past few months. I have no clue what's happening. The film is complete. I finished shooting in October 2005 but I have no clue about its release. I have done my work and moved on. Brides Wanted is a brilliant subject and it's a very good film.

You also had signed a Hollywood film last year. What is the status of that?
Yes, I have signed that film last year. But I am in a contract so I can't reveal much about it. All I can say is that it's an out an out action untitled film. There's a major Hollywood actor playing a main protagonist and I am playing an Italian army recluse so I have an Italian mafia's look in the film.

How did this movie happen to you?
I was shooting for Naina in London. And at that time one of the agents who was working on this film dropped in and asked me for my pictures, but that time I wasn't so keen so very reluctantly I gave him two or three pictures and my website address. And then I got a call from Hong Kong and I was in. We will start shooting from September this year.

You are not a part of the sequel of Nayee Padosan. Will you miss not being a part of this film considering Nayee Padosan was your first film?
As I said I go for a good concept while choosing a film and after Nayee Padosan I have moved on. The sequel didn't excite me too much as an actor. What excites me is my role and the subject of the film. If that doesn't click then I would choose rather not being a part of the film. I can't compromise on work or the kind of input that I give to the film I sign.