Saif reveals that he now has a new career plan in place. “I would now be working on two-three films a year and make sure that I cover a wide spectrum. While a couple of them would be big, nice commercial films, another would be a relatively smaller film that can be completed in 30 days flat.”

After “Love Aaj Kal”, his next production venture is “Agent Vinod”. But shooting for the film is still a little distance away. “Final touches on the script are being given and we have been looking at getting the best technicians on board. I guess by the end of this year, we should begin shooting.”

“In any case I am in no tearing hurry to ready my next film. One should space things out, invest good time to publicise things and get the right preparation in place for the making of the film,” said Saif.

Saif says that he has to work with other actors, as must girlfriend, Kareena Kapoor. Now that Saif 's first home production is out of the way, all eyes are on Agent Vinod, the second offering from his banner. This one features Kareena Kapoor in the lead role then there is Race 2, which also features SAK's ladylove. Is there a chance the Chote Nawab is isolating himself from other actresses because he is dating Bebo? Saif says, "I am not doing Race 2 with Kareena. The script is still being written and then the cast will be selected.”

A lot has been written about Kareena's displeasure at being left out of Love Aaj Kal, but Saif now has to be doubly careful at the selection of leading ladies for his banner. He says, "We have to be very clear about this thing. It is a profession, and though Bebo and I personally involved but professionally we are not stupid. I want to work with her, once in a while.” 

“I mean there is so much Saif-Kareena going on even off-screen that no good director will be least interested in casting us. Which is why I am glad that Kurbaan is not your regular love story. And we are not doing the regular kind of things in it."

He reveals that his next home production is totally different genre from the first Illuminati Films' release. "Agent Vinod is edgy, so it will be cool to see us together in that. But obviously, I have to work with other actors and so must she. It is more interesting to see.” 

I mean I don't want to name other people but there have been star couples in the past on screen, that weren't so exciting. But when you see them with other people, it is refreshing. Actually I think I will take names. At one time John and Bipasha were seen together a lot but one time when they did ads with other people, it was very nice, great and they looked good together. 

So we learn from other people, and we don't do that much work together. We have done one Airtel ad together, and a movie. But it feels like we have done ten movies together because of the perceptions.

He is also careful that his personal life, especially his health, doesn’t suffer due to his professional commitments. “It is of paramount importance that one looks after the body as well as brain. I go to the gym regularly as well as spend some good time with family. As far as work is concerned, I have certainly become even more serious about production after ‘Love Aaj Kal’.”

“We have learnt quite some lessons after the release of our first film and the idea is to leverage from some mistakes that we may have made. My investment as a producer is bound to increase from here on.”

Meanwhile, the success of “Love Aaj Kal” and “Race” (2008) has made it closer for him to the top-five league. While Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan are firmly placed in the top league, Saif too is not that far away.

“I don’t know much about that. All such number placements are for other people to state, study and analyse. As for me, I know today that I’m in a position to make the film that I want to make. I am also confident that the film I would make will carry some meaning to people. My project should now carry certain amount of weight and direction and for that one has to be a bankable star.”

He continues to shrug away the entire numbers game. “This number business is quite fluctuating actually; so one should not be worried about it. What you should worry about more is that now since people have higher expectations from you, you should deliver even better in your next assignments,” Saif said.