The 28-year-old award actor said that he felt "humbled" at being chosen for the award whose previous recipients include some of the most well known names in the entertainment industry including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai.

"I was pleasantly surprised to get the news about my being chosen for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi award. I'm only 28 years old and it’s really early in my career. I feel humbled and honoured to be chosen by the jury," said Shahid.

With three releases lined up this year, Shahid Kapoor surely has the reason to be all smiles. Close on the heels of his double act in KAMINEY, the actor admits that it's his long-standing wish to work with the big three Khan's of the tinsel town now. Speaking about his new wish, Shahid admits, "I admire the stardom SRK, Aamir and Salman have achieved and I really believe they have worked hard for it. Even for me, life has not been easier, I have dealt with rejection in my career as an actor and I respect people who have struggled to get the stardom. I would like to work with the Khan's at some point in my career and I am keeping my fingers crossed about it."

Bollywood’s man with lightening in his feet, Shahid seems pretty chilled out and unfazed by controversies in real life. He is happy, also, with the promos of Kaminey and Dil Bole Hadippa! Which are on air currently. “They are absolutely contrasting,’’ said the actor thrilled to be able to showcase his entire oeuvre this year. “And the cherry on the cake is the fact that Yahoo has me doing what I love best — dancing! Four years of all that I learned in dance has gone into this one film.’’ 

While the Kaminey promotions carry the buzz of his reported affair with Priyanka Chopra, Shahid felt, “Dil Bole Hadippa! Has an edge because people are inquisitive about Rani Mukerji and me. They want to know more about our screen chemistry.’’ 

He is also happy to team up with the seasonal flavour Genelia D’Souza in Yahoo and said, “Finally I’m in a space where I can do whatever I wish as far as my roles go.’’ 

He’s reluctant to discuss about his private life or his rumoured affairs with Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan and Sania Mirza, the teen heartthrob says he’s “learnt to take all the rumours with a pinch of salt” and claims he’s just a “regular” young guy after pack-up. 

Kaminey is different from the films you have done so far... 
That’s true. When Vishal approached me he said, ‘Shahid, ek commercial film banate hain yaar’. Vishal is a great director and I was excited to be part of his film. It’s also the first time I’m playing a double role and both characters are totally different from one another. Yes, it is different from other films I’ve done, and that’s what makes Kaminey so special for me. But there’s so much to look forward to in that film. There’s Vishal Bharadwaj, there’s the romance angle with Priyanka and there’s the rocking number Dhan te naan. 

And then there’s also the shirtless scene.
Oh yes (laughs). Vishal didn’t have to convince me a lot to do the scene. It’s important for the character of Charlie, who is into horse racing. I didn’t do it because going shirtless is the current fad in B-town. I trained really hard for a year to achieve the look I have for the scene. Plus I had six to seven white horses running behind me who were equally good-looking. I had no option but train hard. Moreover, I’m very diet conscious and I eat really boring food. 

The kind of movies you do is very different from the brand of films your dad (Pankaj Kapur) is synonymous with. Ever fancy trying your hand at that? 
There was a time when people did not accept ‘different’ cinema that came their way. But these days they are more acceptable and expect a lot more from an actor. I’ll be testing the waters with Kaminey. If it works, then I don’t mind doing something different. If it doesn’t, then it will give me some food for thought, as to what the audience like and expect. 

Your pairing with Rani Mukerji in Dil Bole Hadippa is pretty unconventional too. 
Yes. But I have no apprehensions about it. I’m sure the makers knew what they were doing when they decided to pair me opposite Rani. The film is an out-an-out masala entertainer. Working with Rani is such a pleasure because she takes a lot of the load off you. And if I had doubts about our pairing, I wouldn’t have signed the film at all.