'We have chemistry'
John Abraham is a very busy man indeed.

He's been in and out of Mumbai for the last six months shooting for three films back to back. But the actor took time out for Pepsi and Shah Rukh Khan during a promotional event in the city.

We caught up with the busy star and quizzed him about sharing screen space with King Khan, films and his 'off the limit' personal life. Excerpts:

In this new Pepsi ad, you have acted with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time. How was the experience?

Acting with Shah Rukh Khan is always special, even if it is a 30-second commercial. The chemistry we share is spontaneous and that makes the ad very funny.

It helps that the content of the ad was funny too.

'Call me uncle'

In the ad, both SRK and you are addressed as uncles. Does that bother you?

Should it? No, it doesn't. That's part of the ad's script. Both SRK and myself enjoyed working on the funny part of 'Uncle'.

In fact, Shah Rukh called me uncle on stage! It was all in good humour where the teenager upstages both of us.

I feel that when underdogs win over established successes, people enjoy it all the more.

When do we get to see SRK and you together?

Shah Rukh is a much bigger star than me, so it would not be right on my part to say that I want to work with SRK now or later.

Of course, I would love to work with him; there will be so much to learn from him. But for that, I guess I will have to wait.

'No Smoking is bizarre'

You have been busy with shooting lately.

Yeah, it's been a lot of films and a lot of travel. In fact, I've just spent two and a half months shooting for Goal in London. I have put in a lot of effort in this film, and I hope it does well.

What's the status on No Smoking?

No Smoking is complete and I am absolutely thrilled about it. It's a bizarre yet brilliant film directed by Anurag Kashyap, who is simply fabulous.

To put in one sentence, No Smoking shows how smoking affects a person's health and personal life. The film has already impressed international film festivals.

'I'm proud of Aashayein'

Where will No Smoking be seen?

The film will be screened at the Rome International film festival first. It's a very prestigious one where only 12 films make it to the competition section. I'm going with Anurag to Rome for this.

Then there's Aashayein with Nagesh Kukunoor.

Yes. I've just finished shooting for it (in Pondicherry). This is again a kind of anti-smoking film, but I can't reveal much about it yet. All I can say is that the film has offered me scope for acting, so I am proud of it.

'Bipasha is off limits'

What do you have to say about your alleged break up with Bipasha Basu?

I prefer to maintain my silence on this. I think there's a lot of dignity in silence, so I won't react to such gossip.

Why not just say where the two of you stand?

I don't feel the need to clarify about us. What's personal should remain personal.

That means the name Bipasha is off limits?

(Smiles) Yes, Bipasha is off limits.