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No guys, this hunky actor isn’t having mood swings. Arjun Rampal, who has turned producer, may be busy, but the actor still takes out time for his hobbies. “Arjun is very passionate about photography,” reveals Divya Dutta, who has first hand experience. “He just can’t stop clicking photographs even on the sets. He has a camera in his hand constantly and he clicks some amazing pictures too.” Well, after Salman Khan took to painting huge canvases and John Abraham took to designing jeans, looks like Arjun too is on his way to having a photography exhibition of his own. Now that would be an interesting show to watch. “With Arjun’s experience as a model and actor, he is quite familiar with the camera,” says a friend of the actor, “And obviously it shows in the photographs he clicks.” Now wonder if this is a precursor to Rampal taking up his position behind the camera? So Arjun, how about wearing the director’s hat for once?

When the genius filmmaker Mani Ratnam decided to cast Sonu Sood in his multi-starrer 2004 film ‘Yuva’, he had complete confidence in the young actor’s abilities. He wasn’t proved wrong. Sood, in his role as Abhishek Bachchan’s outlaw brother, surprised everyone. No wonder, today he is a popular star in the field of Telugu cinema. So much so that even South biggie Nagarjuna likes him.

“Nagarjuna is a really close friend. We first worked together in a film called ‘Super’ which was very much like ‘Dhoom’ and hit it off quite well. Naga is an extremely humble man. In fact, he recently helped me with my home décor! And his inputs worked,” says Sood, who’s done over 19 Telugu films, most of them being hits. Talking about his flat in Lokhandwala, which he has recently done up, it was incidentally bought from Urmila Matondkar. “Urmila lived in my current house for four years, before I purchased it,” he adds.

Sood is now looking forward to three films, one each in English, Hindi and Telugu. His last Hindi film, ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’, was a moderate success. “Now I have become conscious of my roles. Three of my next films are in three different languages. One is a film with Om Puri and Rituparna Sengupta called ‘Saab Chai Paani’. It’s a modern-day ‘Ardh Satya’. ‘Rockin Meera’ on the other hand is about the romance between an African American guy and an Indian girl, while my next Telugu film is a really huge project,” he says.

Kay Kay Menon’s got a suave, calm demeanour and when he’s asked to describe himself, pat comes the reply, “What you see is a reflection of what I am. I can tell you about my personality. But if you ask me about who I am, then I don’t think I can describe myself. Well, for that matter, I don’t think anyone can. I have yet to meet a person who knows himself well enough.”

Acting is not new to Kay Kay, he has been on stage from the age of nine. “As I grew up, I got weaned away into false ambitions. I did an MBA, then corporate filmmaking, but later, I realised that I was not carved out for this, so I went back to my calling - acting,” he says.

And did work come easily to him? “I gave up my job and lived like a pauper for some time! I had a few friends who were quite encouraging and inspiring. I remember those days when I had no work and used to sit with my friends and read out Shakespeare or Tolstoy classics to them. It was these things that kept me in touch with theatre and acting. I won’t term it as a struggle, but a rather eventful journey,” he says.

Though he has been around for quite sometime now, one doesn’t get to hear much about him and his personal life. “My grandfather once said, ‘Son, don’t read the news, be in it’. But I realised that when you are in the news, it doesn’t always mean that you are a good actor. For that you need to work hard. As for my personal life, I am married to TV actor Nivedita Bhattacharya. I met her when I was doing theatre.”

His passionate scenes have a raw appeal and women find him quite attractive. “I make my character look real, whether I’m enacting an angry scene or a passionate one, I give in my best.” And what about his fan following? “Thankfully, I am not mobbed,” he laughs. “I am an actor, not a star. But being an actor I can act like a star.” Doesn’t he wish to be one someday? “No. I want to be known as a fantastic actor and not a star. Being a star would mean not being Kay Kay anymore. As a star, you have to be conscious of yourself and I want to live freely.”

Whether his films have clicked at the box office or not, his acting skills have always been appreciated. Then what is the reason why he has still not been able to cut through mainstream Bollywood? “I think it’s wrong to say that. If I have done a film like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi then I have also done Sarkar. I don’t say that I am flooded with offers. Many times people offer me a lot of trash, but hopefully some good films also come my way,” he says.

Shiney Ahuja’s career is on a roll, post ‘Gangster’. The actor is now all set to act in a movie entitled ‘Four’ which reportedly deals with multiple personality disorder. Also starring Raima Sen, the film will be directed by Soumitra Ranade of ‘Jajantaram Mamantaram’ fame. Ranade has also directed Ashmit Patel and Hrishitaa Bhatt starrer ‘Friends Forever’. While Ranade refuses to say much about Raima’s role, he does comment, “The film is a psycho-thriller. We are also trying to get Jackie Shroff and Amrita Singh for the other pivotal roles and will be ready to go on the floor by September.”

Regarding the unusual title, Ranade says, “It is the fourth film I will be directing and it is primarily about these four characters.” He adds, “There is love but there is at the same time a lot of animosity, tension and a certain element of violence between the characters.” One has also heard that it might be along the lines of ‘Kohra’. “I have heard ‘Kohra’ is an edge of the seat entertainer. So it will be shot in a similarly intriguing manner,” says the director. The film expected to be shot in Pune and Dubai is as the director puts it like an onion - “It has many layers.”

“It’s five years and I haven’t been in love, nor have I taken a girl out for dinner in these years!” laughs bachelor boy Rahul Bose, who will turn 39 on July 27. So, does he plan to stay single? “Never say never. For marriage, you need to be in love, for love you need to date, to date you need to meet women… I haven’t got to the first stage yet! I’d love to, but I never make the time for it, given my hectic travel and work schedule,” he says.

And what about fatherhood? “As of now, I live with my sister and niece Aaliya and it’s wonderful to see her growing up. But if I ever get parenting pangs, I would be happy to adopt a girl as there are so many orphans around the world. I think marriage is not a precondition for fatherhood. I am open to marriage and fatherhood, but the probability of that happening is like USA beating Brazil in football,” says the rugby player.

What kind of a woman would he fall in love with? “I like a woman who can laugh at herself and who is emotionally intelligent. But appeal is so arbitrary that you can never really pin it down. I don’t think there are boundaries to that,” he says.

And how many women has he fallen in love with so far? “Oh millions! One necessarily does not know them or meet them. I think Uma Thurman is the most gorgeous woman on the planet!” And if he were to meet her… “I would love to meet her someday but there’s a fair chance she might miss me because she’s 6 feet 2 and I will be left staring at her belt loop!” he laughs.

Going by a theory that every man and woman is bisexual by nature, what does he think? “I don’t know whether it’s a physical bisexuality. For instance, Hillary Clinton has so much of a man in her, but she’s such an attractive lady. I have nothing against bisexuality, I am boringly heterosexual!” says Rahul, who’s in the midst of writing his new film and raising a million bucks for the same.

On the career front, Rahul says, “I’ve never been happier with the choices I have made - 13 films in 13 years, barring the ones that will release now. I am doing a romantic-comedy, drama, an edgy psychological thriller and a period film. As an actor to do films belonging to different genres has been very satisfying. Earlier, people had an impression that I was happy to play second fiddle to women in films like Chameli and 15, Park Avenue. But now, I want to play strong central characters which power the narrative,” says Rahul.

Unlike each year, Zayed Khan will not hit the party circuit on his birthday today. “Each year you grow as a person, learn from your mistakes and become focussed in life,” he says as he celebrates his birthday today. Lounging in his living room and watching the rains, Zayed is enjoying a day off. “It’s so romantic and beautiful. I quite like the rains… especially because it brings in an unexpected holiday,” he says.

This year, the actor plans to stay at home and spend the day with his family. He continues, “Last night, we had a nice family dinner. Since it was raining, no one wanted to step out of the house. So we ended up having some great home food.”

Having had his share of wild times, Zayed now seems to find satisfaction in being at home with the people who matter to him. “I am bored of parties. Now I want to be at home with my family,” he says.

Zayed gets nostalgic about the Mumbai monsoons. He says, “It rains every year during my birthday. When I was a kid, my parents would take me and 14 of my very close friends to Madh Island where we would have the time of our lives. I miss those days.”

Wife Malaika has already planned a get-together and invited close family and friends. But Zayed is not expecting any gifts. “By god’s grace I have everything. Everyone’s love and affection is the only gift one can ask for… although I can do with a good fruit cake in this weather,” he adds as an afterthought.

Zayed was supposed launch the music of his film Rocky today. “But he cancelled the party because the rains have caused a lot of havoc in people’s lives. He feels that this is not the right time to party,” says Raaj Kumar Tiwari, his business manager and project designer. Directed by Suresh Krishna, the film will also star Isha Sharvani. “It has been a while since I have worked in a solo hero project. I am really looking forward to its release,” he says.

Birthdays are always special. But more so for actor Aftab Shivdasani. “My father and I share the same date,” says Aftab. However, there are no celebrations as he has just been diagnosed with typhoid. So, how does it feel to turn a year older? “I’m turning 28 this year. Every year I feel I don’t have a choice but to grow older and wiser,” he says. Well, he certainly doesn’t seem to look older with his snazzy new hairdo. “This is a new look for my film and besides, my long hair was making me feel very hot.”

Now that Yana has come out in the open about their relationship, what does he have to say about it? “I’m extremely happy and content with my personal life. I’ve never experienced such happiness before Yana,” says Aftab. So, do his parents approve of his choice? “My parents have always been open minded and very supportive. They have met Yana and share a good rapport with her,” he divulges. So is wedding on the cards in the near future? “Not for a while. It is too early for both of us and we want to concentrate on our respective careers. There is a lot to achieve professionally before we even think of settling down,” he says, adding, “I’m not ready to get married right now. There are too many responsibilities. And when I get married, I want to devote a lot of my time.”

Does Yana’s past (her divorce) bother him in any way? “Not at all. She’s an independent and strong minded person and I respect the decisions she has taken and the decisions that she will take in the future. What we firmly believe in is the present and not the past. It is only because of her coming to India, getting married and settling down in this country that I got to meet her,” says Aftab.

What is the one thing that he loves most about her? “Her simplicity.” And what does she love about him? (smiles and pauses to think) “She recently told me that she loves my ability to learn from life’s experiences.” One wish that Aftab has for his birthday today? “That God gives me strength and the ability to make my near and dear ones happy for as long as I live,” he says wistfully.

When Zayed Khan was in London for his recent world tour, he was mobbed by fans galore. But what took the cake was the housekeeping staff at his hotel. Apparently, they were going about their business without knowing who he was till one day, they caught his film Main Hoon Na on their local television network and fell in love with Zayed! The next day, four of the Polish girls waited for Zayed to wake up and kept insisting, “We want to make his bed.” All this just so he might wake up with all the commotion. But Zayed slept like a log. When he did wake up, the girls were delighted to get his autograph and also clicked pictures with him. And the oohing and the aahing just didn’t stop. Seems like even the Polish girls couldn’t resist falling for Zayed’s charm.

Age seems to have done very little to water down that irresistible charm that has become so characteristic of Milind Soman over the 18 years that he has been in the public eye. His long hair and beard may be peppered with the errant grey strand, but you will surely find it hard to believe that the supermodel-turnedactor-turned-producer will be turning 42, come November.

“And guess how I plan to celebrate it?” asks Milind. “On the fifth of November, a day after my birthday, I will be participating in one of the world’s most popular sporting events - the New York City (NYC) Marathon. Having been a regular participant in the past few marathons in Mumbai, I am so kicked about the NYC Marathon which is also the world’s largest marathon covering all of the city’s five boroughs.”

As far as his love life is concerned, Milind says that his current relationship with the half-French, half-Chinese actress Mylene Jampanoi, has reached that point where the possibility of marriage is something he would like to see charting its own course. “I love to be surprised and have never and will never plan anything in my life. I could be married tomorrow or even next year. But having said this, with all my past relationships, marriage has always been the ultimate goal,” says Milind.

Talking of past relationships, the mere mention of Madhu Sapre brings about a palpable sense of fondness and nostalgia to his chilled-out demeanour. “Madhu and I love each other deeply… we always have. I suppose our relationship just wasn’t meant to be,” admits Milind as he slips into a reflective mood. “But we are still together… though we may not be married. We speak to each other all the time and whenever she’s in town we get together and do some serious catching up on old times. We have been through so much together. I guess, I will always love her…”