It must feel great to come back with not just one, but two consecutive successes after the long, long drought?
It feels nice, because the steps that I had taken have paid dividends, I didn't go in for quantity or money, I decided consciously to work in smaller set ups that were making quality movies. Especially after having a good debut I wanted to work with good scripts and directors. That decision has worked for me. I have five hits and done nine films so that is not a bad ratio at all. This is a good feeling, very nice.

But at one point you were considering packing your bags and quitting right?
No, not at all. I don't think I would leave the industry, I would never think of leaving without putting up an adequate fight. If I leave it would be as a winner not as a loser. I don't say either of what we believed in was superior or inferior but together it didn't quite match up to each other. The statement that you are talking about me packing my bags, yeah it was a reaction to a basic situation that I was in. I was not bitter. It was just my state of mind then. But now, I know for a fact that even then I had decided I was never quitting without making it to the top. I had taken a break, had I decided to quit I would never have come back to complete my films. I am going to stick around, make it to the top and then leave, if I want to.

You must be very happy that you stuck to your guns as far as 'Kya Kehna' was concerned, refusing to walk out despite the pressure that was on you.
See, I won't speak any more on the topic because enough has been said about it. Everyone out here is a commodity especially in the industry, when you are hot you sell and when your not you don't. As far as the issue on 'Kya Kehna' is concerned all well that ends well, I now have a hit strapped across me, and that is what matters eventually right

Okay, about your role in 'Josh' - the film did take a long time to make, and Mansoor Khan himself has gone on record saying that he did wonder whether signing you on was a good move especially since the going was not good for you?
Well, I don't believe anyone - in life and even in the industry - can make or break you. I know I am here to stay and have survived five years with more successes than failures. As for Mansoor Khan not having faith in me, it never came through during the making in the film. In fact if anything, Mansoor always stood by me as a director. Most importantly he had faith in his story. Mansoor was a patient director who had the faith in his script and the strength of my character as 'Rahul'. And in any case, the film has done well, my performance has been appreciated and as I said earlier that is what matters eventually.

But as a director it does seem that the makers could have given you more prominence and publicity as opposed to say Sharad Kapoor, who hasn't a hit to his name unlike you?
As far as the publicity was concerned, I know that Mansoor did not have any say in the matter. And in a film that has done well everyone must be given due credit for working as a team. Moreover the character of 'Rahul' was what moves the story further and Mansoor never compromised on that aspect of his story, which as you can see has paid of. As for me not getting as much publicity as other actors in the film, well,let's not make a controversy when there isn't one. You and I both know there exists groupism in this industry and I am not a part of any group and have no godfathers whatsoever, I have to survive here on my own and therefore am going to be very cautious of what I say and have decided not to get involved in any issue where there is any bitterness or bad blood

Aren't you worried about being typecast in the serious lover boy mould?
All your roles so far seem to have the same shade to it. Doesn't this bother you? Yes, it took me awhile to make my mark. What I had to my advantage was a good debut. I am willing to wait patiently for the right scripts to come my way. I know this has its own brickbats. Very often, because of my choosy, serious nature I hear stray comments on the sets where people say "arre Aamir Khan banne ki koshsish kar raha hai" and stuff like that but it really does not bother me so long as I know I am getting good work with this style of functioning.