'Woman with a great smile attracts me'
Rahul Khanna needs good chemistry, wit and a great smile to be attracted to a woman. Ruchira Hoon interviews the actor.
He's been a veejay, an avid blogger and a theatre artiste. Actor Rahul Khanna is as versatile as they come.
After being part of the Broadway musical East is East and the Hollywood film The Emperor's Club, this older son of Vinod Khanna is back in India. Now, he's gearing up for his role in a Bollywood film with Konkona Sen and Irrfan Khan.
Interviewed by Ruchira Hoon
Would you like to be 16 again?
Pimples, braces and exams? Tempting as that sounds, no thank you.
What attracts you in a woman?
Good chemistry, wit and a great smile.
Your most recent purchase? Where did you buy it?
A bottle of cough syrup from my neighbourhood chemist a few minutes ago. I've been battling a cold all day.
The one film you can see again and again...
As Good As It Gets. It has great repeat value. Jack Nicholson is one of my favourite actors and it's a brilliantly written, directed and acted film.
You get put off by people when they…
Smoke.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd like to have a longer attention span.
A childhood memory that's special to you?
Watching my dog dig for crabs at the beach. Sometimes he'd dig such a deep hole, all you could see was the tip of his tail wagging and sand flying everywhere.
Your first crush...
Betty from Archie comics.
What gets you really angry…
Bad cell phone manners. Anyone who has an annoying ring tone, takes a picture of you on their phone camera without asking and carries on loud conversations in public places should be tarred and feathered.
If you woke up and found you'd turned into a woman, you would...
Wax my legs.
Your favourite outfit?
Swimming shorts and a pair of sunglasses.
Three wishes you'd like a good genie to grant you?
World peace, traffic free roads and better cell-phone reception.
What perfume do you wear?
I use Kiehl's Pour Homme lotion which smells great.
The best thing that's ever happened to you?
Wireless internet.
If you could remove one person from this earth, it would be…
Any of those annoying tele-marketers.
Who sets your pulse racing?
Nigella Lawson. She's this very attractive host of a TV cooking show in the UK. The combination of beauty and the skill to make delicious desserts is irresistible.
Do you pray? If yes, who to?
I believe in God but not in a religious sense. I think of him more as a universal life force that governs us all. When I pray I pray to , "whomsoever it may concern"...
The restaurant you love going to?
Indigo. Especially in the winter when you can sit out on the terrace. I also really like Wasabi at the Taj Mahal Hotel. Japanese is my favourite cuisine.
The last holiday you went on?
I spent Christmas and new year in California with some friends. It was very relaxing – lots of great meals and wine and wonderful weather.
The outdoor activity you love?
Water skiing. I haven't had the chance to do it in a few years and I really miss it.
You don't believe in…
Phone psychics. My reasoning is that if they really had all the answers they'd be working for NASA or the FBI and making billions of dollars a year.