Unlike other actors, Akshaye Khanna understands his co-star of ‘Shaadi Se Pehle’, Mallika Sherawat very well and finds that the sizzling actress gets misunderstood by many. Besides that he talks about his forthcoming films.

You’re known to be choosy, so how come you’re going to be seen in five films now?

It's not a question of being choosy. It's about finding roles that excite me. This time I liked all the five scripts. There's so much work happening in our film industry. Just how much of that work is worth doing depends entirely on an individual actor. I was suddenly offered stuff that I found terribly exciting.

And you are doing a comedy with Mallika Sherawat!

Why not? I think Mallika Sherawat is misunderstood. I'm not saying her image is entirely misleading. There's never any fire without smoke. But just because she has done certain films in the past of a particular kind, it doesn't mean that everything she does now will be of the same quality. She wants to move away from her image and this film is a good starting point.

Comedy seems to have become your forte?

I can safely say that 'Shaadi Se Pehle' is at least two or three times better than 'Hulchul' and 'Hungama' put together, in terms of the comic relief it provides. It's much funnier and more entertaining. This is in no way a reflection on the director. It's just the script. Why 'Satish Kaushik', any competent director including Priyan would do a good job with 'Shaadi Se Pehle'.

You just shot with a whole ensemble cast for Dharmesh Darshan’s ‘Aap Ki Khatir’ in London.

I think Dharmesh has reached a point in his career when he wants to move with the times, to make something that appeals to younger audiences. His basic treatment this time is more contemporary than his last few films.

How difficult is it to go from Farhan Akhtar to Dharmesh Darshan?

I never had a problem adjusting to different schools of filmmaking. I've worked with an eclectic bunch of director from Anees Bazmi to Farhan Akhtar to Abbas-Mustan to Nikhil Advani.

How is Nikhil’s ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’ coming along?

It's one of the greatest screenplays that I've come across. Every five years we get four to five films that push the envelope. Salaam-e-Ishq is one of them.

You’re playing Mahatma Gandhi’s son Harilal in Feroz Khan’s film.

Yes. But I'm not supposed to talk about it.

Do you have a love life?

Not at the moment. But I'd like to change that very soon.