Arjun Rampal is all about business

He is a man of few words and opium of style and poise. After his stint in the blockbuster, Om Shanti Om, Arjun is all set to experiment into newer horizons. He is all set to get en route with top restaurateurs by launching his chain of lounge bars.

So, what is it exactly, a restaurant, hotel, bar? "It's a restaurant cum lounge bar. And I am opening this in Delhi. It also has a very interesting name 'LAP' implying lounge and party. We were thinking about a lot names but we wanted something different and yet simple so we just took the initials." From films to a straight jump into restaurant business, why such a leap? "Having a restaurant was something that I have always carried in my mind since long but having a restaurant in Mumbai is very difficult with respect to space. Finding a suitable place is very tedious and time consuming; in addition to that, I have a lot of film commitments as well.

I have always been excited to open a place like this for late night parties, and for people to just hang out and chill out. I was toying with the idea for a while then one day, I met A.D. Singh (the partner and director of Olive Bar&Kitchen Restaurant). He told me about his desire to open something new. So we together decided on LAP. Anyways it would be great to begin with a partner; besides, A.D. Singh and me there is Shirish Saras, our third partner to this venture. I know Shirish for 20 years and share a great rapport. We short-listed a place at the Samrat Hotel in Delhi. It has great potential; it's large, and once the work is all done it would be really nice."

But why Delhi? "It's a lovely place to start something new. I began my modeling career there. We will be opening another joint in Mumbai soon. LAP will raise the bar for lounges in Mumbai and Delhi. The interiors of LAP will be done by the best architect in India, Nozer Wadia. You will really have to wait for its opening to know any more details." So when is the D-Day'? "In Delhi, it will have a grand opening by November that is if we meet the deadline. It's like a challenge from my perspective, a need to do something different. That's all."

On the film-work front, you look suave and sexy in Rock On. "Well, the credit goes to the director Abhishek Kapoor and Niharika who has worked on everyone's look. Rock On is inspired from individuals all over the world who have a dream. But somewhere due to many uncanny reasons we brush it off. One is stuck in the mundane routine of life. Would life be any different if you get an opportunity to change it, is the question often asked. The film is a musical and realistic; it talks a lot about relationships, friendship. The band is called 'Magic', I am the lead guitarist of the band and Farhan is the lead singer, Luke Kenny is keyboardist while Purab is the drummer. It is the journey of 'Magic'. Prachi is fabulous in the film, she is one of female actors in the film. The other girl is Sahana Goswami, she has a difficult role to play and Suhana has done an amazing job."

You are doing another film titled Fox. "Fox is a thriller film directed by Deepak Tijori and I have begun shooting for the film. I cannot reveal anything more about the film. In addition to that, I am also doing a film produced by my production, 'Chasing Ganesha'. The details however will be announced within 2-3 weeks. I have finished shooting for EMI with Sanjay Dutt. Once I am done with the release of The Last Lear in September, I will begin shoot for Prakash Jha's Rajniti. Lastly, I will be doing Don 2 with Excel Films. Wow, I have almost narrated my life to you now."

We couldn't ask for more now, could we!