What is the buzz on Baaz? Is it a Bird In Danger? Or is it the film?

Ask Suniel Shetty, and he chortles loudly. One of his biggest assets as a star is his great sense of humour.

Never one to take stardom too seriously, Suniel has nevertheless dilgently mapped his career. Today his presence in a film ensures a certain audience participation.

How far would it help Baaz, asks Subhash K Jha:

What is Baaz?

It is actually a romantic thriller. There is a killer on the prowl who is doing his hatchet job in scenic Nainital. Many pretty girls end up getting kidnapped and losing their lives.

Karisma Kapoor becomes the next victim, and it is up is three guys -- Jackie Shroff, Dino Morea and me to save her life.

It is a decently made film. I think [director] Tinu Verma has handled the subject better this time than in Maa Tujhe Salaam, where it was action all the way [Verma is a long-time action choreographer]. In Baaz, there was no scope to get carried away.

The endeavour was to thrill and shock.

He spoke against me, he apologised. When I heard the script of Baaz, I decided to do it. This one made sense. The rest that came my way were inane. I have never done a suspense thriller before. And this one was one with Karisma, whom I worked with about ten years ago.

It does. She is the one who is being targeted by the killer. Everyone has well-defined roles.

They could not have gone any other way [but downhill]. I didn't expect anything from them. But the year began and ended with two successes -- Awaara Paagal Deewana and Kaante.

Even Karz was not a losing proportion. Agreed, there were other heroes in these films. But which hero, apart from Dino Morea, gave a solo hit last year?

Multi-starrers are the order of the day. The script and director make a difference.

This year, too, the trend is towards a multi-star cast. I am doing two and three-hero films. The time for Rs 10 crore films is over. Now, it is either Rs 3 crore or Rs 20 plus crore. A solo hero film has to be made cheap.

I would rather be attached to well-made, big-budget films. I am very clear about my career this year. I will only do big films which have something different to offer.

Jism was a small, different, yet successful, film?

Jism needed the beautiful bodies of Bipasha Basu and John Abraham to bring the crowds. They are a good-looking couple and the audience believed in Jism. Besides, it is a film from the Bhatts who are a film family and know how to make a product workable. The Bhatts know how to get the audience curious.

They did it 12 years ago with the music in Aashiqui, with the music and suspense in Raaz and with classy erotica in Jism. It was a small budget film and did the job in the first few days itself. Raaz was an A centre film.

Baaz also has something for the B and C centres. Everyone would want to know who the killer will strike next. We are hoping audiences will be curious about Baaz.

How is Tinu Verma as a director?

The subject is right for him. He is technically savvy. Baaz gives a feel of action and suspense which Tinu has delivered. The audience will get to see me doing action. But not too much of it.

I am definitely back as an action hero, and trying to do a different kind of cinema. Success or no, I don't really know. 

I am attempting completely unexpected roles. You may or may not like Baaz. But you will definitely say I have done something different. I doubt any other actor in Mumbai has a line-up of films like mine.

I have Mani Shankar's Rudraksha, J P Dutta's LoC, Ram Gopal Verma's Ek, Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na.

Where you play a villain!

No! It isn't a villain's role. If it was, I would have never touched it in my life. I did the role because, in some ways, it is like the Pakistani soldier I played in Border.

My character in Main Hoon Na has the same love for his country and is willing to go to any lengths for his patriotic belief. I have some really good films coming up.

[Director] Priyadarshan and I are discussing another project. I have them lined up until June-July 2004.

No, it is a special effects film. It takes audiences through various time zones. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Isha Koppikar, Kabir Bedi and me. At least we are trying to do something different here. It is a costly Rs 22 crore film produced by Nitin Manmohan.

Depends on what the World Cup has to offer. If the first few matches go well I think there would be no market for any film. It's a cricket-crazy nation. If the Indian team scores we filmwallahs are in big trouble. We had no time for promotion. We had to rush our release or wait till April. We wanted to get it out .

Plus we have the glossy Khushi, the hardhitting Satta and Freaky Chakra to reckon with. The audience is bound to be divided. I can only hope for the best. I have put my heart and soul in Baaz. I would be happy if it succeeds. If not, I refuse to take the blame for it. No more getting involved with films that need to be pushed. From now on I will only be part of films that will be pre-sold to the audience. I want to work in sure shot films.

That is on hundred percent. My announcement on this will take everyone will surprise. It is a dream project. I want to do it the right way.