So tell me, where have you been hiding yourself?
Nowhere! Just been shooting out of Mumbai but the warmth of our unit just makes me forget the loneliness I suffer for being far away from home. I'm lucky to be working with friends constantly.

But why have you been lying low?
It isn't a conscious decision. Unfortunately, such is the nature of our career that we interact with the media only at an event or when a release is around the corner. Otherwise, we tend to get caught up in shootings. I've been traveling extensively during the past few months and had no time for anything but work and immediate family.

Aishwarya looked like a true royal princess in 'Jodhaa-Akbar'.
Most definitely! I married her. And I think she's the most beautiful woman on earth.

Do you and Aishwarya discuss one another's work?
Oh, yes. Most definitely I'm always very keen to know her reactions to my assignments and projects. She has very keen insight. She's a wonderful sounding board. I take Aishwarya's advice just as I take my parents' advice. They're some great actors in the house and I do seek their advice.

Are there lots of film discussions at home?
We're very good at leaving our work behind. After a point we don't discuss work at all. We like to keep aside our work and just talk about other things.

Guru, which most considers your finest performance to date, came at the start of 2007. Do you think it's forgotten at the awards at the end of the year?
Why do you say that? Rang De Basanti had also been released in January. Awards are no doubt very encouraging. But there have been many notable films in the past that haven't won awards. At the end of the day, the greatest award is a successful film. One chooses a film because it seems interesting, not to see how many awards it will finally get. Guru was an acclaimed and successful film. It's one of the biggest hits of 2007.

Are you more possessive about Sarkar Raj than Jodhaa Akbar since the former stars you with your wife?
No. I am an actor and we're both thoroughly professional. It would be incorrect for me to be possessive about our film together. I am both an actor and her husband. I'm possessive about her, not her films. It doesn't matter whom she works with. In fact, I really like her pairing with Duggu. I think they looked good together in Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar. I wish that pair all the best.

Does he prefer Aishwarya as Jodhaa or Aishwarya as a detective in 'Pink Panther'?
I like Aishwarya the best in the role of my wife.

Are you pleased with your assignments?
Of course! How wonderful to be working at a time when an actor gets to do a Sarkar Raj, Drona and Dilli 6 during the same year. It's a dream come true for any actor.

Why did you initially opt out of Dilli 6?
Rakeysh Mehra mentioned the subject to me many years ago. He finally decided to shoot it in winter 2006 when I was committed to shooting Drona. I suggested he do it with someone else. He asked Duggu who asked me if it was okay. I was perfectly okay with that. But then Duggu's dates didn't work out. Then Rakeysh decided to re-write the script. By then it was December 2007 and I was thankfully able to do the film. The rest, I hope will be history. Rakeysh is a very sensitive director and I love working with him. I was meant to start my career with him.

Both you and dad are huge fans of Waheedaji?
Who isn't? This is my second film with her after Om Jai Jagdish. I just keep staring at her. Actors would do anything to be in one frame with her.

What about your co-star of Dilli 6 Sonam Kapoor?
I saw Saawariya and thought she was wonderful. When I started my career I wasn't half as good as Sonam or Ranbir. It's wonderful to see this whole eager enthusiastic new generation coming in.