He started his acting career with Naseem in 1995. Since then he has travelled a long way and established himself as a talented and reliable actor.

He has hobnobbed successfully with various genres of cinema - from art house films like Bhopal Express, and Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi , to hard core commercial features like Sarkar, and Life in a ... Metro - essaying a variety of roles, each different from another.

He is a perceptive human being and an intelligent actor. He has never let down his audiences and his directors. He has delivered more than what has been expected of him and that is the key to his success.

Here are some excerpts from a talk I had with him on the sets of his film Dream Man in which he essays sixteen different roles.

What has had the biggest influence in shaping you as an actor and a human being?

Life. That is what makes you what you are.

Your Hindi is very good though you are a Menon, a Malayali?

I was born in Calicut, Kerala, in a Malayali family but rest of my life was spent in Maharashtra, mostly in Pune and Nagpur where I completed my studies. I specialised in marketing management and that naturally brought me to Mumbai. It has been a long journey from Calicut to Pune, Nagpur, and Mumbai. I have seen so much in life.

We are on the sets of Dream Man. What are you shooting today?

The film has already been shot and completed. We are shooting a promotional song today.

You will be happy to get a chance to dance again like Honeymoon Travels...

Oh no. I don’t look for such chances. I am not a good dancer. I danced in Honeymoon... as the role demanded it. One cannot make me dance just for the sake of it.

What is your role in Dream Man?

I am not doing a role in the film. I am doing many roles in it. Sixteen roles to be precise. I am doing the role of a guy who arouses hopes and dreams and kindles the -fire of ambition among people. He is a catalyst who prompts you to aspire and dream big and realise those dreams. He shows you the way, the right one.

You are out to break the record of the late Sanjeev Kumar who essayed nine different characters in Naya Din Nayi Raat.

No. I am not doing this film to break any record. I am doing what I am expected to do in the film.

What is it that you won’t be doing in the film?

I will certainly not be playing K K Menon. (Laughs)

Why? The roles that you do must be having a bit of you in them.

No. I don’t impose my personal ego and attitudes on my roles. I try to play the role assigned to me, staying true to it, and keeping aside my personality.

Dream Man is a film directed by Makrand Deshpande. Two of his previous films have yet to be released. What made you do this film?

I am an old friend of Makrand. He is very talented and highly creative. None can ever doubt that. Moreover, the film’s idea, the story, and my role(s) are exciting and challenging. It suits me all the way. I am answering the call of friendship, apart from doing a great film. Two objectives achieved, in one shot.

The success of Metro has made you 'saleable'. What do you have to say about that? Has there been a change in your life because of this?

What do you want to ask? Do I feel like a star? Not necessarily. I am an actor. I do my best and the audiences can feel it and like my work. Some filmmakers may not see it though. That is their problem. I was always capable of carrying a film on my shoulders. If Metro has helped in correcting their misconception, it is a good and a welcome development.

It seems 2007 is going to be a year of 'big bang' for you.

Yes. A number of my films are ready for release. Two films have already come. Via Darjeeling, BBD, Stranger, Shoonya, and Dream Man are ready. I am doing Goldie Behal’s Drona as well.

Tell us about these films.

BBD is about the victory of good over the evil. Anjan Dutt is the director. Shoonya is about a sportsman and his travails and turmoil. Arindam Mitra is the director. Tulip Joshi is my co-actor. Via Darjeeling is a thriller, about some men who sit in a restaurant and start narrating tales to each other and then things happen.

Are you playing a negative role in Drona?

I am just doing a role I have done before. I have played negative roles in the past as well. In Paanch, which is yet to be released in India, I have done a negative role that will make people hate me.

My role in Dansh was also negative in the beginning where I played a MNF spokesperson. I am an artiste and would love to do roles with different shades and flavours.

Drona is a fantasy thriller where I play a villain who has supernatural powers. The film is full of special effects and action scenes.

Your roles are generally very intense. Are you like that in your personal life too?

No, I am not. Please help me correct this perception. I am a very simple guy, with no sense of pride, and ego. I am accessible and approachable. I am a friendly person. I also play cricket, badminton, and tennis. I am reserved to the extent that a normal guy can be.

What is it that you consider the most important element of your craft as an actor?

I don’t believe in research. I feel that an actor should use his imagination to prepare for and to develop a role. There is nothing like a role that is closer to reality. How can you represent reality when you are acting? The film’s screenplay determines the nuances of a character for me. The seed of the idea is hidden there.

Are you still connected with theatre?

I have not really found time for theatre for very long. I miss it. I like theatre rehearsals. Very soon, I will be seen on stage yet again. So much has changed in theatre too.

When are you going to turn a director?

I don’t intend to. I have not even directed a play. I am enjoying my acting and as far as the future is concerned, none can predict it.