Why seduction scenes are difficult!

Tusshar Kapoor is clear about what he wants. "I am taking a back seat," he says firmly. "Let people blame me for doing fewer movies than for doing bad movies."

Tusshar's last hit was the multistarrer Khakee (2004). The box office did not respond to his last two releases, Gayab (2004) and Insaan (2005).

Jeetendra's son refuses to be fazed. He is buoyant about his forthcoming release, Kya Kool Hai Hum, which, incidentally is his home production. His earlier home production, Kucch To Hai (2003), was a box office disaster.

Will Kya Kool Hai Hum break the jinx? Tusshar shares the answer with Entertainment Correspondent Patcy N:

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It's about two wannabe losers who want a great lifestyle but don't have the means to achieve it. They also want some romance in their life. So they try to take the shortcut rasta. They come across two girls who become part of this whole hungama.

The characters: My character, Rahul, is an aspiring fashion designer who dreams of a romantic and comfortable life. He means well, but can't resist taking a shortcut when he wants something.

His best friend, Karan, is a chaalu-type who always gives him the wrong advice. Though he's a loser, he tries to show he knows everything and is constantly running after money. 

My heroine in the film, Isha Koppikar, plays Inspector Urmila Matondkar! Neha Dhupia plays a psychiatrist.

My co-star, my friend: Ritesh [Deshmukh] had signed the film before me. He is a very dignified person. He comes from a classy background. He is lot like me. He is very good in comedy and he is always trying to improve the scenes and make the dialogues funnier. He is willing to contribute even after the shooting is over and is banking a lot on this film.

The whole movie rests on our shoulders, and our chemistry. If that works, the movie will work. 

Playing favourites: My favourite scene in the film is when I come out of Barista, and somebody's cigarette falls into my pants. My reaction after that is so funny -- I take a bottle of water and pour it into my pants while people around me wonder what's wrong with me!

My favourite song in the film is Chaska.

My toughest scene was the seduction scene with Isha Koppikar. She is seducing me and I have to act in a manner contradictory to the way I am feeling.

Musically inclined: Getting Rishi Rich, Juggy D and J Sean for Dil mera was Ekta's (Kapoor, his sister) idea; instead of a normal item number, she wanted something that would appeal to the youth.

Why Koolness happens: Ekta had loved Masti and wanted to make a sex comedy. But our movie is not similar to Masti; that was a sex comedy, and this is the story of friends like Jai and Veeru [Sholay].

It's called Kya Kool Hai Hum because these boys want to be cool; the story is about whether they become cool guys or not.

Kya.Kool… is an entertaining mix of the thriller and comedy genres.

Directorially speaking: [Director] Sangeeth Sivan had this script for many years. I had heard it a long time ago, but it was ahead of its time then. When I recently heard the script again, I liked it even more. He insisted I do the role since I suited it.

The tag 'cool' should actually be given to Sangeethji -- he is a very cool person and doesn't have the ego film directors normally do. He knows his job and is extremely cooperative; if we didn't like something, he would change it. He never had the attitude that he was the director so everyone had to do exactly as he desired.

We know his last film flopped, but our track record is not great either. Even successful directors give flops eventually; it is the energy put in the film that matters. Today's audiences don't go for the name, they go for the screenplay and the script.

Behind the scenes: I have done eight films so far; only two of them have been with my home production, yet people accuse me of working with my home production only.

In a home production, there is a lot of pressure apart from acting -- whether the actors have reached or not, dates of other actors, whether costumes are ready on time, the cameraman is unhappy and is not eating food… At the same time, you are happy as you are taking more responsibility. You know exactly why a schedule had to be cancelled and, as your involvement is more, you get creative satisfaction.

I was personally involved in the pre-production. I have also done the editing -- I cut the film and helped make it crisp. I have been involved with Anuji [Malik] in the music sittings. The film's promos have been designed by Sangeethji and me. I sat with my mother to budget the film. I also gave my suggestions on the characterisations.

This is the first time I was actively involved; it could happen because I was not working on any project. Ekta has not come on the sets even once. This is the first time she has taken a back seat.

The past: After Khakee and Gayab, I did a small role in Insaan as second lead.

Gayab did not work because people were expecting dhamaal jadoo mantra but it was the story of Vishnu Prasad, which was a sad story.

Insaan was a big mistake. I did it for Rajji (Kumar Santoshi, the director of Khakee) who is a close friend of mine. He was not involved in the film but he wanted us to do it. I don't blame him. On the second day of the shoot, I realised this movie was not good and would not do well at the box office.

There has been a long gap between my films. That's because I have been careful. Dil Mange More was supposed to be my film, but I didn't do it. I didn't do Lakeer either. I am taking a back seat. Let people blame me for doing fewer movies than for doing bad movies.

The future: My forthcoming projects include a movie with Suneel Darshan. Raj Kumar Santoshi has offered me a multistarrer. Manish Malhotra's film will also be a multistarrer.

In the future, I want to get into production and, maybe, direction. Our serials department is doing well; I want our film department to flourish too.