“Well, I think we are really happy that people have liked our onscreen chemistry. We are definitely looking at doing something together soon. Woh toh hoga,” assures Deepika, “However before we make a final call, both of us have to come on board individually in terms of liking the script that comes our way. I am sure there is something that would come in for us.”

Rumors are thick that the ‘script’ which has been ‘liked’ is Imtiaz Ali's next with Sajid Nadiadwala, which is yet untitled and would be going on floors early next year. However, an official announcement is yet awaited since Imtiaz is busy with Highway, Deepika is stepping into promotion of Ram Leela, Ranbir is occupied with Bombay Velvet while Sajid is shooting for Kick.

While all involved with their next film are keeping mum so far, one expects that Deepika and Ranbir too are brainstorming on the ideas for their next films together. After all, they could well fill in the romantic space that has been left unoccupied ever since Shahrukh and Kajol made it their own for more than a decade.

“See, between us everything doesn't have to be spoken about. We get along with each other really well,” she smiles, “Moreover, you can't force these things. The same way actors choose scripts, at times the scripts too chose those actors who are destined to play some parts. I am sure something as beautiful as Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani will happen again for us.”

What impresses us, is the fact that all is well between the duo, especially after their much public break up a few years back. However, as it happens in most relationships, there is always a tipping point where discussions are made and it is either a goodbye for good or reconciliation on the cards. In case of her and Ranbir, what was the kind of conversation that took place between the two before there was a call of ‘all is well’ between the two?

Says Deepika after a pause, “I don't know; there hasn't been any such particular conversation ever. There was no sitting down and talking to each other while having to prove our point. There was nothing to say actually. The beauty of our relationship is that we both accept life and situations as they come. We have just let it be the way it is rather than thinking too much about it and in the process over engineering it.”

We like that.

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However, while one waits to see Shahid Kapoor's R... Rajkumar escapades unfold on the big screen, Prabhudheva is back into the company of men after his brief stint with a youngster in Action Jackson shaping up quite well.

“Prabhudueva has enjoyed making films with established actors so far. Whether it is Salman (Wanted) or Akshay (Rowdy Rathore), he has managed to get it right each time around since these men have been ruling the industry for more than 20 years each. Now ditto has been the case with Ajay Devgn. Since he is an original action star himself right from the days of Phool Aur Kaante, the job for Prabhudheva was not to work on image change for an actor but to actually play along with that. It made his association with Ajay on Action Jackson all the more fruitful and eventful,” cites a source.

This was exactly the case in his first two Hindi films as well, and now that he is back with an action hero after a brief hiatus, the director-choreographer with strong inclination for action is thrilled to bits.

“It is for the first time that I am making a film with Ajay and he is such a humble and sweet man. Everyone had been telling me for so many years that he is a nice person. Now I have experienced that first hand and can say myself that it has been superb working with him,” says Prabhudheva.

He has already shot with Ajay for around 19-20 days and is happy with the progress being made. In fact to break the ice, a major part of this schedule involved canning a high adrenaline action sequence.

“People will love what Ajay has done in the film. He has been terrific in the action sequence. I, for sure had a lot of fun directing him. Now I am looking forward to resuming the shoot with him,” smiles Prabhudheva.

We too would be looking forward to how the first time association pays off.

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“First of all, it is an honor to be even compared with Aamir; he is way far ahead in the curve,” John smiles, “I am just two films old as a producer. I would love to make sensible cinema and love to be known as an intelligent filmmaker. If Aamir is a benchmark then I am complimented for sure. Having said that, he is far more evolved. He is too established and I am too new and raw.”

Still, those who have worked with John, either as a part of his production team or otherwise vouch for the fact that he is pretty much turning out to be the new perfectionist in town.

“Perfectionist? Seriously? Well, all I can say is that Aamir loves chess and so do I. I do get these perfectionist traits when I have to win that game of chess. On an even serious note, let me add that I have been a big fan of Aamir and the kind of supporter in the cinema he believes in.”

That pretty much holds true since just like Aamir, who is bringing some offbeat content in an entertaining mode - case in point being Peepli [Live] and Delhi Belly - John too appears to be treading the same path with Madras Café and Vicky Donor. With a couple of more productions all set to go on floors which promise not to take the oft beaten path, John is aspiring to marry experiment with commerce, as has been the forte of Aamir.

“All that I do is very intuitive though. I have not tried to map mine to anyone's career. See, even in the past I have done Water, No Smoking and Kabul Express. Today a lot of people are re-visiting this film and exclaiming “wah, kya cinema banaaya hai!” It is just that I have been saying the same things for years,” John gives that dimpled smile of his before signing off.

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Is “24” the first television offer that has come your way?

No, I have had a few offers earlier too; some of these were tempting and lucrative enough. There were some reality shows hosting opportunities as well. However, I was not really geared up to take them at that time. I wasn't really getting excited to get my teeth into it. When I was working in the international version of 24 with Kiefer Sutherland, I was excited because it was shot like a film. I felt that it would be good value for India as well.

Was the trigger point also driven by the fact that you wanted to change the course of Indian television?

I don't work like that. Even when I was doing films like Slumdog Millionaire, Eeshwar, Ram Lakhan, Viraasat or Woh Saat Din, there was never a conscious effort to do something different. I never really got into this thing ki chalo, kuch aisa karte hain jisse saare trend change ho jaayen. I just pick up something on my gut instinct and then work hard to make it happen. I have never tried being a Messiah.

While it was your gut instinct to pick up “24” for India, what was the gut instinct of the studios out there to lend you the rights when there were so many other countries in contention?

Yes, this is the first time when 24 has been picked internationally. The creators there told me that others had been trying to buy the franchise for long. Perhaps since I had worked with them on one of the seasons for an entire year, they trusted me with their baby. Ek bharose ki bhi baat hoti hai. Maine ek baar poocha aur unhone haan kar di.

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“Those that know me understand that I believe ‘word of mouth’ is the strongest promotional activity that can happen for anyone’s film,” says Akshay, “An actor should always promote his work with passion and conviction. Screaming from the rooftops and saying – ‘Watch my film’ - doesn’t always work in your favor.”

He goes on to add, “See, sometimes too much hype creates too many expectations. Remember, this is the world of films; it’s not magic. Creating awareness for your film's release date is one thing but shoving your voice down people's throats, only to let them down on your Big Friday can be catastrophic for your career. Hype can make or break a film. You need to be careful about that and measure it well.”

“Meanwhile, Boss is one of Akshay's rare films where he doesn't have a leading lady opposite him. One wonders if it was the lure of hogging all the screen space - since he is playing the central protagonist Boss - the reason.

“Believe me, you will be surprised that ‘hogging’ is not my forte in this film,” laughs Akshay, “In fact you will be counting the minutes for my arrival (for there is a story to be told before you even see my bubbly behavior). This isn’t about a man and his fists bursting through the screen every five minutes chasing his lady love. This is a heartfelt action drama with comedy bursting at the seams. This Boss has no time for love. The film is only the love of a father and his two sons.”

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